Francis Osborne, 5th Duke of Leeds
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His Grace The Duke of Leeds KG PC |
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Portrait by Benjamin West, circa 1769
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| Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | |
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In office 23 December 1783 – May 1791 |
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| Monarch | George III |
| Prime Minister | The Right Hon. William Pitt |
| Preceded by | The Earl Temple |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Grenville |
| Leader of the House of Lords | |
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In office 1789–1790 |
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| Preceded by | The Lord Sydney |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Grenville |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 January 1751 |
| Died | 31 January 1799 (aged 48) London, Great Britain |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Tory |
| Spouse(s) | (1) Lady Amelia Darcy (1754-1784) Catherine Anguish (1764-1837) |
| Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford |
Francis Godolphin Osborne, 5th Duke of Leeds KG PC (29 January 1751 – 31 January 1799), styled Marquess of Carmarthen until 1789, was a British politician. He notably served as Foreign Secretary under William Pitt the Younger from 1783 to 1791. He also was Governor of Scilly. As a statesman he is generally regarded as a failure, and his deep hostility to the newly independent United States of America damaged relations between the two countries.
Leeds was the son of Thomas Osborne, 4th Duke of Leeds, by his wife Lady Mary, daughter of Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin, and Henrietta Godolphin, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough. He was educated at Westminster School and at Christ Church, Oxford.
Leeds was a Member of Parliament for Eye in 1774 and for Helston from 1774 to 1775; in 1776 having received a writ of acceleration as Baron Osborne, he entered the House of Lords, and in 1777 Lord Chamberlain of the Queen's Household and Captain of Deal Castle. In the House of Lords he was prominent as a determined foe of the prime minister, Lord North, who, after he had resigned his position as chamberlain, deprived him of the office of Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire in 1780. He regained this, however, two years later.
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