Francis North, 1st Earl of Guilford

Francis North, 1st Earl of Guilford (13 April 1704 – 4 August 1790), known as The Lord Guildford between 1729 and 1752, was a British peer and politician.

North was the son of Francis North, 2nd Baron Guilford, and his wife Alicia (née Brownlow). He was returned to Parliament for Banbury in 1727, a seat he held until 1729, when he succeeded his father as third Baron Guilford and entered the House of Lords. In 1734 he succeeded his cousin as seventh Baron North and in 1752 he was created Earl of Guilford in the Peerage of Great Britain.

Lord Guilford married firstly Lady Lucy, daughter of George Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax, in 1728. After her death in 1734 he married secondly Elizabeth, daughter of Arthur Kaye, 3rd Baronet, in 1736. After her death in 1745 he married thirdly Catherine, daughter of Robert Furnese, 2nd Baronet, in 1751. She died in 1776. 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, who had previously served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1770 to 1782. His stepson Lord Dartmouth also served in government.

The Lord Guilford is the namesake of Guilford County, North Carolina.

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