Francis Dashwood, 11th Baron le Despencer Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable The Lord le Despencer PC FRS


2nd Postmaster-General
In office 1765–1781
Prime Minister	Various
Preceded by	The Earl of Bessborough
Succeeded by	The Viscount Barrington
Master of the Great Wardrobe
In office 1763–1765
Monarch	George III
Preceded by	The Earl Gower
Succeeded by	The Earl of Ashburnham
Chancellor of the Exchequer
In office 1762–1763
Prime Minister	The Earl of Bute
Preceded by	The Viscount Barrington
Succeeded by	George Grenville
Treasurer of the Chamber
In office 1761–1762
Monarch	George III
Preceded by	Charles Townshend
Succeeded by	Sir Gilbert Elliot
Member of Parliament for New Romney
In office 1741–1761
Preceded by	Sir Robert Austen
Succeeded by	Thomas Knight

Personal details
Born	December 1708 Westminster, Middlesex, England
Died	1 December 1781 West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England
Political party	Tory
Spouse	Sarah Gould (m. 1745)
Children	Rachel Fanny Antonina Lee (illegitimate)
Parents	Sir Francis Dashwood, 1st Baronet Lady Mary Fane
Education	Eton College

Francis Dashwood, 11th Baron le Despencer (born December 1708 – died 11 December 1781) was an important English politician. He served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1762 to 1763. He was also known for starting a social group called the Hellfire Club.

Life and Career
Family
Portrayal in Literature and Other Media
See also

Life and Career

Early Life and Family

Francis Dashwood was born in London in December 1708. His father was Sir Francis Dashwood, 1st Baronet. His mother was Mary Fane. Francis was their only son. He also had a sister named Rachael. His father had other children from different marriages, so Francis had six half-siblings.

Francis went to Eton College for his education. There, he became friends with William Pitt the Elder, who would later become a famous politician. When his father passed away in 1724, Francis was only fifteen. He inherited his father's lands and the title of Baronet of West Wycombe.

Grand Tours of Europe

As a young man, Dashwood traveled a lot around Europe. These trips were part of a tradition called the Grand Tour. Young, wealthy people would travel to learn about art, culture, and history.

He visited France and Germany in 1726. Later, from 1729 to 1731, he spent two years traveling. During this time, he visited Italy, including Florence and Rome. He also saw the ancient ruins at Herculaneum. In Italy, he met a philosopher named Antonio Niccolini.

In 1733, Dashwood traveled to St Petersburg in Russia and also visited Copenhagen. He kept a detailed diary of this trip. This diary gives us important information about these cities at that time.

Dilettanti Society and Divan Club

In 1732, Dashwood helped create a social group called the Society of Dilettanti. This club was for people who had returned from their Grand Tours. They shared a love for classical art. William Hogarth, a famous artist, even drew a picture of Dashwood for the society. Dashwood was a very important member of this group.

The Dilettanti Society also became more serious over time. Dashwood's work with the society led to him becoming a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1746. He also became a member of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1769. These groups focused on science and history.

Dashwood in Divan Club attire.

In 1744, Dashwood and his friend the Earl of Sandwich started another club called the Divan Club. This club was for people who had visited the Ottoman Empire. They wanted to share their travel stories. However, this club only lasted for two years.

Political Career

When Dashwood returned to England, he began his political career. He became a member of Parliament for New Romney in 1741. He often spoke out against the government of Robert Walpole.

In 1747, he tried to pass a bill to help poor people. He suggested creating public works projects, like the Hellfire Caves at West Wycombe Park, to provide jobs. However, this bill did not become law.

Dashwood continued to be re-elected to Parliament. In 1757, when the Seven Years' War began, he became the first colonel of the Buckinghamshire militia.

In 1761, he became a Member of Parliament for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis (UK Parliament constituency). The next year, he was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer. This was a very important role, in charge of the country's money. However, he was not very experienced in finance. His budget speech was difficult to understand. He introduced a new tax on cider and perry, which caused a lot of protest.

In 1763, Dashwood left his role as Chancellor. He was then given the title of 11th Baron Le Despencer. This meant he became a member of the House of Lords. He also became Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire. He served as Postmaster General from 1770 to 1781.

The Hellfire Club

Francis Dashwood is well-known for founding a social club. He was too young to join the very first Hellfire Club from 1719. However, he and the Earl of Sandwich were said to be members of a Hellfire Club that met in the 1730s.

In 1746, Dashwood started his own group, which he called the "Knights of St. Francis." This name was a playful reference to his own name and to Saint Francis of Assisi. Dashwood wanted to create a fun group that was a bit of a joke on serious religious orders. He aimed for "convivial gaiety" and "social felicity."

In 1752, the group moved its meetings to Dashwood's family home in West Wycombe. They called themselves "the Order of the Friars of St. Francis of Wycombe." Later, they moved to Medmenham Abbey, about 6 miles from West Wycombe. Here, they were known as the "Monks of Medmenham."

Medmenham Abbey was an old building located by the Thames river. Dashwood rented it with some friends and family members. They had the buildings repaired by an architect named Nicholas Revett. The members would meet regularly, sometimes for a week or more.

The members of the club called each other "Brothers." The leader of the group was called "Abbot." During meetings, members reportedly wore special clothes. The club was known for its mock rituals and banquets. Dashwood also built a church on a nearby hill in West Wycombe.

Family

West Wycombe Park

On 19 December 1745, Francis Dashwood married Sarah Gould. She was the widow of Sir Richard Ellis. Sarah passed away in 1769.

Francis Dashwood did not have any children who could inherit his title. After his death in 1781, the title of Baron Le Despencer was passed to his cousin, Thomas Stapleton. His baronetcy (another type of title) went to his half-brother, Sir John Dashwood-King.

Portrayal in Literature and Other Media

Francis Dashwood has appeared in various books and stories:

Charles Brockden Brown in his 1798 novel Wieland
J. Meade Falkner in his 1895 novel The Lost Stradivarius
Robert Anton Wilson in his 1975 The Illuminatus! Trilogy and 1980–81 Schrödinger's Cat Trilogy
James Herbert in the 1994 novel The Ghosts of Sleath
Eddie Campbell in the 1994 comic book Hellblazer
Kathy Reichs in the 2001 Novel Fatal Voyage
Carrie Bebris in her 2005 Regency novel Suspense and Sensibility
Mike Carey in the 2006 comic book Hellblazer
Kage Baker in her 2007 short story "Hellfire at Twilight"
Tom Knox in the 2009 novel The Genesis Secret
Diana Gabaldon in her 1998 novella Lord John and the Hellfire Club
Dashwood is mentioned in a longer version of the section "The Sailor's Hornpipe" on Mike Oldfield's debut album Tubular Bells.

Francis Dashwood, 11th Baron le Despencer facts for kids

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