BURDETT, SIR FRANCIS, BART., brother of Robert Burdett (adm. 1776, qv); b. 25 Jan 1770; adm. 16 Sep 1778; expelled as one of the ringleaders of the rebellion “up School” against Samuel Smith (qv), Head Master, autumn 1786; Christ Church, Oxford, matr. 13 Dec 1785; Grand Tour (France, Italy) 1789-91; succ. his grandfather as 5th baronet, 15 Feb 1797; MP Boroughbridge 1796-1802, Middlesex 1802- 9 Jul 1804, 4 Mar 1805 - 10 Feb 1806, Westminster 1807-37, Wiltshire North from 1837; denounced the war with France, and frequently protested against the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act; imprisoned on political charges in 1810 and 1820; a zealous advocate of parliamentary reform, and of Catholic emancipation; a vehement opponent of flogging in the army, and corruption in parliament; a staunch Radical until the passage of the Reform Act of 1832, but afterwards became a strong Tory and “thanked God there was another House”; m. 5 Aug 1793 Sophia, youngest dau. of Thomas Coutts, London, banker; d. 23 Jan 1844. DNB.