Sir Francis, Baronet, was born January 25, 1770. The rudiments of his education he received at Westminster School, whence he removed in due time to Oxford. He did not wait to graduate at that university, but in 1790 set out on a Continental tour, in the course of which he became strongly imbued with the revolutionary principles then dominant in France and other countries. On his return to England in 1793 he married the youngest daughter of Mr Coutts, a wealthy banker, with whom he received a large fortune. Through the influence of the Duke of Newcastle he was chosen M.P. for Boroughbridge, on which occasion he had as colleague Mr Scott, afterwards Lord Eldon. At the outset of his political career he was a zealous supporter of ultra-liberal measures. In 1802, after a protracted contest, he was elected M.P. for Middlesex, in opposition to the former member Mr Mainwaring. The election however was declared void, and in the subsequent canvas he was defeated. In 1806 he again stood for Middlesex and was again defeated, but when he stood for Westminster in the same year he was elected by a large majority. The obstinate violence with which he opposed the existing government hurried him into indiscretions, which ended in his commitment to the Tower. The mob, with whom his popularity was unbounded, endeavoured to rescue him, and some lives were lost in the unsuccessful attempt. At the prorogation of parliament he was released, and lost no time in prosecuting the Speaker and the Sergeant-at-arms. His action however failed. On the occasion of the Manchester riots in 1809 he wrote a letter to his constituents, for which he was tried for libel, found guilty, and condemned to three months' imprisonment, and to pay a fine of £1,000. In 1837, he ceased to represent Westminster, and when he was returned for North Wilshire he joined the conservative party, which he supported during the remainder of his political career. He died on the 23rd of January 1844.