Francis North, 4th Earl of Guilford

Who was Francis North, 4th Earl of Guilford?

Francis North, 4th Earl of Guilford, styled The Honourable Francis North until 1802, was a British peer, Army officer, and playwright.

North was the second son of Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford. On 8 July 1777, he was commissioned an ensign in the 58th Regiment of Foot. On 27 January 1778, he became a cornet in the 2nd Dragoons, and in December 1778 or May 1779 was promoted lieutenant in the 2nd Dragoon Guards. On 29 April 1780, he became a captain in the 96th Regiment of Foot.

Capt. North was appointed aide-de-camp in extraordinary to Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle, the new Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, on 30 December 1780, a post he held for the duration of Carlisle's tenure in office. On 9 April 1781, he exchanged into the 49th Regiment of Foot. On 22 April 1783, he was promoted major in the 83rd Regiment of Foot, which regiment, however, was disbanded the following year.

North was also a playwright, and his drama, The Kentish Baron, was produced at the Haymarket in 1791 and deemed a success. On 9 September 1794, he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel. He was appointed lieutenant of Dover Castle in 1795 and captain of Deal Castle in 1799, succeeding his elder brother George North, 3rd Earl of Guilford in 1802. On 5 May 1803, he was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Kent.