BURDETT', Sir FRANCIS (1770-1844). An English liberal politician. lie was born Jan uary 25. 1770, and was educated at Westmin ster and Oxford. Ile spent some years on the Continent, and was a witness to the progress of the first French Revolution. In 1793 he mar ried Sophia Coutts, heiress of the wealthy Lon don banker; in 1796 was elected member of Par liament for Boroughbridge. Yorkshire, and in 1797 succeeded to the Ile made him „elf conspicuous by his opposition to the Gov ernment and the French War; advocated Parlia mentary reform, Catholic emancipation, and other liberal measures, and, as an effective pont jestl speaker, for many years was the idol of the London populace. Having obtained a Par liamentary inquiry into the abuses of the metro politan prisons, he was returned in 1807 for Westminster, which lie represented for nearly thirty years. Burdett, in ISIO, published. in Cohbctt's Political Register, a letter to his con stituents, declaring the conduct of the Commons illegal in imprisoning John (4ale Jones, a radi cal orator, who had questioned their authority in excluding strangers from the 'louse. The
Speaker issued a warrant for Burdett's arrest as guilty of a breach of privilege. Refusing to sur render, he for two days barricaded his house, the populace supporting him in his resistance: but on April 9, the sergeant-at-arms, aided by the police, obtained an entrance, and conveyed him to the Tower. The prorogation of Parlia ment restored him to liberty. Prosecuted in 1519 for a letter on the 'Peterloo massacre,' strongly condemning the authorities, he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and a fine of 12000. In 1835 he joined the Conservatives, and in 1837 was returned for Wiltshire, which he repre sented till his death. January 23, 1844. Burdett maintained the freedom of public speech in Eng land by a fearless and unflinching attitude against all attempts at suppression.