Burlingame is situated on land previously owned by San Francisco-based merchant William Davis Merry Howard . Howard planted many eucalyptus trees on his property and retired to live on the land . Howard died in 1856 and the land was sold to William C. Ralston , a prominent banker . In 1868 , Ralston named the land after his friend , Anson Burlingame , the United States Ambassador to China . After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake , hundreds of lots in Burlingame were sold to people looking to establish new homes , and the town of Burlingame was incorporated in 1908 . In 1910 , the neighboring town of Easton was annexed and this area is now known as the Easton Addition neighborhood of Burlingame
1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
Burlingame, California