Background
He was the eldest son of Captain Francis Blake Delaval Registered Nurse of Seaton Delaval Hall, and succeeded to the estate in 1752.
He was the eldest son of Captain Francis Blake Delaval Registered Nurse of Seaton Delaval Hall, and succeeded to the estate in 1752.
Christ Church; Westminster School.
He had a privileged and aristocratic education at Westminster School, Eton College and then Christ Church at Oxford University. He added to it by building the folly known as Starlight Castle, overlooking Holywell Dene which leads to Seaton Sluice. Little survives of it now apart from a single stone archaeology
Francis was an actor in a group of Samuel Foote.
He was a gambler but could not afford that lifestyle. His military career was of short duration.
He took part in the Raid on Street Malo, and received a knighthood for his bravery when storming the Brittany beach, although there were no French troops present to offer resistance. He represented Hindon in Wiltshire in Parliament from 1751 to 1754, and Andover in Hampshire from 1754 to 1768.
His London townhouse was 11 Downing Street, now the official home of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
He suffered a stroke, and was memorialized by his obituarist as ""the very soul of frolic and amusement (who) overbalanced a few foibles by a thousand amiable qualities".
11th Parliament of Great Britain. 10th Parliament of Great Britain. 12th Parliament of Great Britain.