Sir Francis Dashwood, 1st Baronet

Biography

Francis Dashwood was the third son of Francis Dashwood, a merchant trading with a Turkey, and an Alderman of London. His brother, Sir Samuel Dashwood, was Lord Mayor of London in 1702.

Dashwood and his brother Samuel joined their father's business early and became leading silk importers. They were also members of the British East India Company and the Worshipful Company of Vintners. They prospered despite the disruption in trade caused by the Anglo-Dutch Wars, and sent a frigate to trade in China in 1700.

In 1698, Sir Samuel and Francis bought the estate of West Wycombe from their brother-in-law Thomas Lewis, Francis eventually buying out his brothers' share. Francis was knighted in 1702, but a cooling of the relationship between the brothers had occurred, and they had ceased their joint business in 1704.

Sir Francis was elected M.P. for Winchelsea on 4 May 1708, and again on 9 October 1710; he was created Baronet Dashwood of West Wycombe on 28 June 1707. He died on 4 November 1724, and was buried at Wycombe.

Family

Sir Francis was four times married, and by his third wife, Mary, daughter of Major King, was father of Sir John Dashwood-King (1716-1793), who succeeded his half-brother Lord Le Despencer as 3rd baronet, an honour which his descendants, having dropped the name King, still held in 1900.

Sir Francis further improved his prospects by marriage, his first wife, Mary Jennings (m. c. 13 April 1683), having died in 1694, after bearing the following children:

On 30 May 1705, he married Lady Mary Fane (1676 – 19 August 1710), daughter of Vere Fane, 4th Earl of Westmorland. By her he had two children:

After the death of Mary, he married Mary King (d. c. 1717) on 17 June 1712, by whom he had four children:

His fourth and final wife was Lady Elizabeth Windsor (d. 1736), daughter of Thomas Hickman-Windsor, 1st Earl of Plymouth, whom he married on 21 July 1720. They had no children before his death in 1724.