Background
Francis Dashwood was born in December 1708, the only son of Sir Francis Dashwood, the first baron, and his second wife, Mary, the second daughter of Vere Fane, Baron Le Despenser and fourth Earl of Westmoreland.
politician statesman Chancellor of the Exchequer
Francis Dashwood was born in December 1708, the only son of Sir Francis Dashwood, the first baron, and his second wife, Mary, the second daughter of Vere Fane, Baron Le Despenser and fourth Earl of Westmoreland.
Francis was educated privately and at Charterhouse. He inherited his father’s estates at age 16, and embarked on a life of pleasure and debauchery, being a member of the Beefsteak and Hellfire clubs, and later a leading member of the Dilettante Society. He toured Europe; and while in Russia, masquerading as Charles XII, he attempted to become the lover of Tsarina Anne. On his return to England he joined the household of Frederick Lewis, the Prince of Wales. After his uncle the Earl of Westmoreland was dismissed from his position as colonel of the first troop of horse guards, Dashwood became a strong opponent of Walpole’s administration.
Dashwood’s parliamentary career began with the 1741 general election, in which he won a seat for New Romney.
Dashwood was reelected as M.P. for New Romney in 1754. In March 1761 he was re¬turned as M.P. for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, a seat to which he was reelected in 1762. It was at this point that he began to gain political honors. He was appointed treasurer of the chamber and a privy councillor in March 1761, and became chancellor of the exchequer in June 1762, in the Earl of Bute’s ministry. He performed poorly as chancellor, did litde of worth, and retired with the Bute ministry on 8 April 1763.
Shortly afterward he became the fifteenth Baron Le Despenser. Thereafter he almost disappeared from political activity, although he emerged briefly to denounce John Wilkes, his one-time friend, for his “Essay on Woman.” Le Despenser died after a long illness, on 11 December 1781.
He opposed Sir Robert Wapole, who was shordy to fall from power; and after Walpole fell, he remained in opposition as a supporter of the Prince of Wales and an opponent of George II’s governments. He was returned for New Romney again in both the 1747 and 1751 general elections, and became a supporter of George Bubb Dodington (Lord Mel- combe), who was a vehement opponent of Walpole.
He married Sarah Gould, the widow of Sir Richard Ellis, the third Baron Wyeham. However, marriage does not seem to have settled him down.