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Sir Francis Burdett, 5th Bt

(1770-1844), Parliamentary reformer

Regency Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter associated with 135 portraits
An aristocrat and an independent MP, Burdett entered Parliament in 1796 to become the most influential radical politician. He championed free speech, personal liberty and radical state prisoners. In 1807, with the help of labour activist Francis Place, Burdett successfully stood for Westminster - a hotbed of radicalism. He was arrested and imprisoned for denouncing the House of Common's decision to bar journalists from some debates. Burdett became a national celebrity as 'Burdett and Liberty' riots exploded onto London's streets, marking a shift of popular sympathy towards electoral reform.

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The House of Commons, 1833, by Sir George Hayter - NPG 54

The House of Commons, 1833

by Sir George Hayter
oil on canvas, 1833-1843
On display in Room 12 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 54

Sir Francis Burdett, 5th Bt, by Sir Martin Archer Shee - NPG 432

Sir Francis Burdett, 5th Bt

by Sir Martin Archer Shee
oil on canvas, 1843
On display in Room 12 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 432

Sir Francis Burdett, 5th Bt ('Messager d'Etat'), by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12647

Sir Francis Burdett, 5th Bt ('Messager d'Etat')

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured aquatint, published 21 May 1798
NPG D12647

'The explanation', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12651

'The explanation'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 30 May 1798
NPG D12651

'Pigs meat; - or - the swine flogg'd out of the farm yard', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12654

'Pigs meat; - or - the swine flogg'd out of the farm yard'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 22 June 1798
NPG D12654

'Nelson's Victory; - or - good-news operating upon loyal-feelings', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12659

'Nelson's Victory; - or - good-news operating upon loyal-feelings'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 3 October 1798
NPG D12659

'Doublûres of characters; - or - striking resemblances in phisiognomy', by James Gillray, published by  John Wright - NPG D12663

'Doublûres of characters; - or - striking resemblances in phisiognomy'

by James Gillray, published by John Wright
hand-coloured aquatint and soft-ground etching, published 1 November 1798
NPG D12663

'Stealing off; - or - prudent secession', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12665

'Stealing off; - or - prudent secession'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 6 November 1798
NPG D12665

'Meeting of the monied interest', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12672

'Meeting of the monied interest'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 13 December 1798
NPG D12672

'Citizens visiting the Bastille' (John Courtenay; Sir Francis Burdett, 5th Bt), by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12676

'Citizens visiting the Bastille' (John Courtenay; Sir Francis Burdett, 5th Bt)

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 16 January 1799
NPG D12676

'Exhibition of a democratic-transparency, - with its effect upon patriotic feelings', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D13096

'Exhibition of a democratic-transparency, - with its effect upon patriotic feelings'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 15 April 1799
NPG D13096

'Integrity retiring from office!', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12756

'Integrity retiring from office!'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 24 February 1801
NPG D12756

'Preliminaries of peace! - or - John Bull, and his little friends

'Preliminaries of peace! - or - John Bull, and his little friends "marching to Paris"'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 6 October 1801
NPG D12768

'Political dreamings! - Visions of peace! - Perspective horrors!', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12769

'Political dreamings! - Visions of peace! - Perspective horrors!'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 9 November 1801
NPG D12769

'Preparing for the grand attack, - or - a private rehearsal of

'Preparing for the grand attack, - or - a private rehearsal of "The ci-devant ministry in danger"'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 4 December 1801
NPG D12774

Sir Francis Burdett, 5th Bt, by and published by Piercy Roberts - NPG D19556

Sir Francis Burdett, 5th Bt

by and published by Piercy Roberts
hand-coloured etching, published circa 1801-1807
NPG D19556

'Despair' (Richard Bateman Robson; John Horne Tooke; Thomas Tyrwhitt Jones; Sir Francis Burdett, 5th Bt), by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12787

'Despair' (Richard Bateman Robson; John Horne Tooke; Thomas Tyrwhitt Jones; Sir Francis Burdett, 5th Bt)

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 8 April 1802
NPG D12787

storming Heaven; - with, the gods alarmed for their everlasting-abodes', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D13106

storming Heaven; - with, the gods alarmed for their everlasting-abodes'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, engraving and aquatint, published 1 May 1804
NPG D13106

'L'assemblée nationale: - or - grand cooperation meeting at St Ann's Hill', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D13107

'L'assemblée nationale: - or - grand cooperation meeting at St Ann's Hill'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 18 June 1804
NPG D13107

'Middlesex-election. 1804', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D13108

'Middlesex-election. 1804'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 7 August 1804
NPG D13108

Sir Francis Burdett, 5th Bt, by Anthony Cardon, after  Richard Cosway - NPG D19935

Sir Francis Burdett, 5th Bt

by Anthony Cardon, after Richard Cosway
stipple engraving, published 1804
NPG D19935

Sir Francis Burdett, 5th Bt, by George Dawe, after  Samuel Woodhouse - NPG D32399

Sir Francis Burdett, 5th Bt

by George Dawe, after Samuel Woodhouse
mezzotint, published 1805
NPG D32399

'Uncorking old-sherry', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12841

'Uncorking old-sherry'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 10 March 1805
NPG D12841

'The guardian-angel', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12842

'The guardian-angel'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 22 April 1805
NPG D12842

'End of the Irish farce of Catholic Emancipation', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D13110

'End of the Irish farce of Catholic Emancipation'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 17 May 1805
NPG D13110

Hungry Rats in an Empty Barn, by Charles Williams, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D47472

Hungry Rats in an Empty Barn

by Charles Williams, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published March 1806
NPG D47472

'Tiddy-doll, the great French-gingerbread-baker; drawing out a new batch of kings', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12857

'Tiddy-doll, the great French-gingerbread-baker; drawing out a new batch of kings'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 23 January 1806
NPG D12857

'Triumphal procession of little-Paul-the taylor upon his new-goose', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12881

'Triumphal procession of little-Paul-the taylor upon his new-goose'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 8 November 1806
NPG D12881

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