Francis North 1673-1729

Francis NORTH, 2nd Baron Guilford 1673-1729

Biographical Note

Born in London, son of Francis North, 1st Baron Guilford and Frances Pope. Succeeded as 2nd Baron in 1685. Attended Winchester College. Matriculated at Trinity College, Oxford in 1689; MA 1690. Lord-lieutenant of Essex 1703-5.Privy counsellor 1712; First Lord of Trade 1713-14. Married 1. Elizabeth Greville; 2.Alicia Brownlow. Cousin of Dudleya North, Katherine North, Montague North, and William, Lord North and Grey.

Books

Inscriptions in editions of Cicero (1684) and Caesar (1678) at Trinity College, Oxford Q.12.18-19, Q.12.20, record them as gifts to the college from North ‘primi ordinis com[m]ensalis’.

He used an engraved armorial bookplate dated 1703 (‘The Right Honble. Francis North, Baron of Guilford’): Franks 22012; *84 (another impression).

Nineteen books containing his bookplate owned by John Byrom are now in Chetham's Library. Other examples: Cambridge University Library, Rel.d.63.2; Corpus Christi College Cambridge, Parker Library C.6.9; Christ Church, Oxford, Wd.8.22 (which came into the bequest of William Wake); Jesus College Cambridge, Malthus L.2.41-42; Magdalen College Oxford, 888.01 POL (HIS) 1609 (fol.) (bearing earlier presentation inscription from Isaac Casaubon toWilliam Camden); New College Oxford, BT3.204.8; New York Public Library, 3-MAD+(Sandrart, J.).

Sources

• The Peerage (derived from Burke’s Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage)
• Gambier Howe, E. R. J. Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum. London, 1903-4.