Francis North, 1st Earl of Guilford

Francis North, 1st Earl of Guilford (13 April 1704 – 4 August 1790), styled as Lord Guilford between 1729 and 1752, was a British Whig politician and courtier who sat in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1727 to 1729 when he succeeded to the peerage as Baron Guildford. He also became the Treasurer of Queen Charlotte of the Royal House of Mecklenburg. His son, Frederick North, was the famous Prime Minister of Great Britain who lost the American Revolutionary War under his term.

Early life Wroxton Abbey North was the son of Francis North, 2nd Baron Guilford, and his wife Alice Brownlow, daughter of Sir John Brownlow, 3rd Baronet, of Humby, Lincolnshire. He was educated at Eton College and matriculated at Trinity College, Oxford on 25 March 1721, aged 16. He undertook a Grand Tour in about 1722. She died in 1776.

Death and legacy Lord Guilford survived his third wife by fourteen years and died in August 1790, aged 86. He was succeeded by his son from his first marriage, Frederick North, Lord North, who had previously served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1770 to 1782. His stepson Lord Dartmouth also served in government.

Lord Guilford is the namesake of Guilford County, North Carolina. and Guilford, Windham County, Vermont.