Francis North, 4th Earl Of Guilford

Francis North, 4th Earl of Guilford, was born on 25 December 1761 and died on 11 January 1817. Up until 1802, he was known as The Honourable Francis North. He was a British Army officer and a playwright. North was the second son of Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford, and his wife, Anne.

His military career began with a commission as an ensign in the 58th (Rutlandshire) Regiment of Foot on 8 July 1777. He subsequently became a cornet in the 2nd Dragoons on 27 January 1778. Between December 1778 and May 1779, he was promoted to lieutenant in the 2nd Dragoon Guards. On 29 April 1780, he achieved the rank of captain in the 96th Regiment of Foot. During this period, he was appointed aide-de-camp in extraordinary to Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle, who served as the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; North held this position from 30 December 1780 for the duration of Carlisle’s tenure.

On 9 April 1781, North transferred to the 49th Regiment of Foot through an exchange. He was promoted to major in the 83rd Regiment of Foot on 22 April 1783, a regiment which was disbanded the following year. In addition to his military pursuits, North was also involved in theatrical pursuits; his play "The Kentish Baron" was produced at the Haymarket Theatre in 1791 and was considered a success.

Continuing his military progression, North was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on 9 September 1794. He was appointed lieutenant of Dover Castle in 1795 and later became captain of Deal Castle in 1799, succeeding his elder brother, George North, 3rd Earl of Guilford, in this role in 1802. On 5 May 1803, he was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Kent.

In his personal life, North married Maria Boycott on 19 July 1810; the marriage did not produce any children. When he passed away in Pisa in 1817, the earldom was inherited by his brother, Frederick North, who became the 5th Earl of Guilford.