Sir Francis Dashwood, 1st Baronet

Sir Francis Dashwood, 1st Baronet ( – 4 November 1724) was a British merchant, landowner, and Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1708 to 1713.

Early life Francis Dashwood was the third son of Francis Dashwood and his wife Alice Sleigh, daughter of Richard Sleigh of Derbyshire. He was a brother of Sir Samuel Dashwood, Lord Mayor of London, and a cousin of Sir Robert Dashwood, 1st Baronet. His sister Sarah married Fulke Greville, 5th Baron Brooke in 1665. His father was a merchant trading with the country of Turkey, and an Alderman of London.

Career Dashwood and his brother Samuel joined their father's business early and became leading silk importers. He became a Freeman of the Vintners' Company in 1680. He was able to loan the government £1,000 in March 1690 and to establish a residence at Wanstead Essex. He was an assistant of the Royal African Company for the years 1693 to 1695, 1697 to 1700, 1704, 1706 to 1707 and 1709 to 1712. He was a director of the Old East India Company from 1700 to 1702, 1703 to 1705, and 1707 to 1709, and was a manager of the United Trade Company from 1707 to 1708.

In 1698, the Dashwood brothers were able to invest £15,000 to buy the estate of West Wycombe from their brother-in-law Thomas Lewis. Francis Dashwood eventually bought his brothers' share. Samuel Dashwood was Lord Mayor of London in 1702 and at his inauguration Francis was knighted by Queen Anne. He was created baronet of West Wycombe on 28 June 1707.

Personal life

By licence dated 13 April 1683, Dashwood married Mary Jennings, a daughter of John Jennings of St Margaret's, Westminster, which increased his finances. Before her death in 1694, they were the parents of a son, who predeceased him, and two daughters, including:

Mary Dashwood, who married Sir Fulwar Skipwith, 2nd Baronet in 1703. Susanna Dashwood (–1747), who married Sir Orlando Bridgeman, 2nd Baronet.

On 30 May 1705, he married as his second wife Lady Mary Fane (1676–1710), daughter of Vere Fane, 4th Earl of Westmorland and the former Rachel Bence (a daughter of John Bence). Before his second wife died in 1710, they were the parents of a son and daughter:

He died at his town-house in Hanover Square on 4 November 1724 and was buried at Wycombe. His personal estate was valued at over £34,000.