Complex sentence: He also refused to recognize the election of Elisha Cooke as Speaker; he had annulled Cooke's election to the council after a dispute with him over royal rights to ship timber in Maine.
Split into simpler sentences: He also refused to recognize the election of Elisha Cooke. Jr. as Speaker; he had annulled Cooke's election to the council after a dispute with him over royal rights to ship timber in Maine.