Biography of Francis North 1st Baron Guildford 1637-1685

Before 1636 [his father] Dudley North 4th Baron North (age 33) and [his mother] Anne Montagu Baroness North (age 23) were married.

On 22nd October 1637 Francis North 1st Baron Guildford was born to [his father] Dudley North 4th Baron North (age 35) and [his mother] Anne Montagu Baroness North (age 25).

Around 1647 Francis North 1st Baron Guildford (age 9) educated at St John's College, Cambridge University [Map].

On 16th January 1666 [his grandfather] Dudley North 3rd Baron North (age 83) died. His son [his father] Dudley (age 64) succeeded 4th Baron North. [his mother] Anne Montagu Baroness North (age 54) by marriage Baroness North.

John Evelyn's Diary. 2nd May 1672. My son, John (age 17), was specially admitted of the Middle Temple by Sir Francis North (age 34), his Majesty's (age 41) Solicitor-General, and since Chancellor. I pray God bless this beginning, my intention being that he should seriously apply himself to the study of the law.

In 1673 [his brother] Charles North 1st Baron Grey, 5th Baron North (age 37) was created 1st Baron Grey of Rolleston.

On 14th December 1673 [his son] Francis North 2nd Baron Guildford was born to Francis North 1st Baron Guildford (age 36). He married (1) 25th February 1695 Elizabeth Greville Baroness Guildford, daughter of Fulke Greville 5th Baron Brooke and Sarah Dashwood Baroness Brooke (2) 1703 Alicia Brownlow Baroness Guildford, daughter of John Brownlow 3rd Baronet and Alice Sherard Baroness Brownlow, and had issue.

In 24th June 1677 [his father] Dudley North 4th Baron North (age 75) died. His son [his brother] Charles (age 41) succeeded 5th Baron North.

Before 30th December 1677 [his brother] Charles North 1st Baron Grey, 5th Baron North (age 41) and [his sister-in-law] Catherine Grey Baroness North and Grey of Rolleston (age 46) were married. She by marriage Baroness North, Baroness Grey of Rolleston.

John Evelyn's Diary. 23rd January 1683. Sir Francis North (age 45), son to the [his father] Lord North, and Lord Chief Justice, being made Lord Keeper on the death of the Earl of Nottingham, the Lord Chancellor, I went to congratulate him. He is a most knowing, learned, and ingenious man, and, besides being an excellent person, of an ingenious and sweet disposition, very skillful in music, painting, the new philosophy, and politer studies.

On 4th February 1683 [his mother] Anne Montagu Baroness North (age 71) died.

On 27th September 1683 Francis North 1st Baron Guildford (age 45) was created 1st Baron Guildford.

John Evelyn's Diary. 7th February 1684. I dined with my Lord Keeper (age 46), and walking alone with him some time In his gallery, we had discourse of musiq. He told me he had ben brought up to it from a child, so as to sing his part at first sight. Then speaking of Painting, of which he was also a greate lover, and other ingenious matters, he desir'd me to come oftener to him.

John Evelyn's Diary. 15th March 1684. At Whitehall [Map] preached Mr. Henry Godolphin (age 35), a prebend of St. Paules, and brother to my deare friend Sydnie (age 38), on 55 Isaiah 7. I dined at the Lord Keeper's (age 46), and brought to him Sir John Chardin (age 40), who shewed him his accurate draughts of his travells in Persia.

Before 1685. John Riley (age 38). Portrait of Francis North 1st Baron Guildford (age 47).

On 5th September 1685 Francis North 1st Baron Guildford (age 47) died. His son Francis (age 11) succeeded 2nd Baron Guildford.

John Evelyn's Diary. 6th September 1685. About 6 o'clock came [his brother] Sl Dudley (age 44) and his brother [his brother] Roger North (age 32), and brought the greate seale from my Lord Keeper (deceased), who died ye day before at his house [Map] in Oxfordshire. the King went immediately to Council; every body guessing who was most likely to succeed this greate officer; most believing it could be no other than my Lord Chief Justice Jefferies (age 40), who had so vigorously prosecuted the late rebells, and was now gone the Western circuit, to punish the rest that were secur'd in the several counties, and was now neere upon his returne. I tooke my leave of his Ma* (age 51), who spake very graciously to me, and supping that night at Sr Stephen Fox's (age 58), I promis'd to dine there the next day.