1-645-979 - The London Archives (City of London)/Heritage Images

'Middlesex-election, 1804. A long pull, a strong pull and a pull all together', 1804. Sir Francis Burdett drawn by his supporters in his carriage, which bears pro-French decorations and is driven by Horne Tooke. After being elected to parliament in the 1802 election, Burdett's return was subsequently declared void in 1804 and he was then defeated in the re-run poll. The dispute dragged on with the verdict of the original poll reversed on two more occasions. The case cost Burdett a vast amount of money and he declared that he would not stand for election again, but he changed his mind and was successfully elected as an MP for the constituency of Westminster in 1807.