Francis Arthur John French, 7th Baron de Freyne (3 September 1927 – 24 November 2009) was an Irish-born aristocrat, son of Francis French, 6th Baron de Freyne and Lina Victoria Arnott.
Lord de Freyne was educated at Ladycross School, Seaford, East Sussex and at the Benedictine Abbey school, Glenstal, in Co. Limerick.
He married, firstly, Shirley Ann Pobjoy, daughter of Dougles Rudolph Pobjoy, on 30 January 1954. He and Shirley Ann Pobjoy were divorced in 1978. He married, secondly, Sheelin Deidre O'Kelly, daughter of Lt.-Col. Henry Kane O'Kelly, in July 1978. He inherited the title of Baron de Freyne of Coolavin, co. Sligo in 1935 which, until 1999 entitled him to sit in the House of Lords. He was also a Knight of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
In 1952 Lord de Freyne sold French Park, the family's ancestral home, in Frenchpark, Republic of Ireland. The great house and demesne had been in the French family since 5,000 acres (20 km2) were granted to Dominick French in 1666; prior to its dissemination during the land acts the estate comprised 36,000 acres (150 km2). Having sold the estate, the de Freynes moved to Oxfordshire.
By his first wife Lord de Freyne had three children;
His eldest son, Charles, succeeded as Baron de Freyne upon his father's death on 24 November 2009.
| Peerage of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Francis French |
Baron de Freyne 1935–2009 |
Succeeded by Charles French |