Burdett, SIR FRANCIS, Bart.

Burdett, SIR FRANCIS, Bart., the most popular English politician of his time, was born 25th January 1770. Educated at Westminster and Oxford, he spent three years (1790-93) on the Continent, and was a witness of the progress of the French Revolution. In 1793 he married Sophia, youngest daughter of Coutts, the wealthy London banker; in 1796 was elected M.P. for Boroughbridge, Yorkshire, and in 1797 succeeded to the baronetcy. In the House of Commons he made himself conspicuous by his opposition to the war, and his advocacy of parliamentary reform, Catholic emancipation, freedom of speech, prison reform, and other liberal measures, most of which were afterwards carried. One of the most effective political speakers of that excited period, he for many years prominently occupied public attention, and was the idol of the London populace. His candidature for Middlesex in 1802 involved him in four years' costly and fruitless litigation; but in May 1807, in which same month he fought a duel with a Mr Paull, he was returned for Westminster, which he represented till 1837. Burdett having in 1810 published, in Cobbett's Political Register, a Letter to his Constituents, declaring the conduct of the House of Commons illegal in imprisoning a radical orator, the Speaker's warrant was issued for his apprehension, as being guilty of a breach of privilege. For two days he barricaded his house; the populace supported him in his resistance, and in a street contest between them and the military one life was lost; but after two days an entry was forced, and Burdett conveyed to the Tower. The prorogation restored him to liberty. In 1820 a letter on the 'Peterloo massacre' involved him in three months' imprisonment and a fine of £1000. In 1835 he joined the Conservatives; in 1837 was returned for Wiltshire, which he represented till his death, on 23d January 1844.