Sir Francis Dashwood, 1st Baronet (c. 1658 – 4 November 1724) was a British merchant.
A son of Francis Dashwood, Alderman of London, he and his brother Samuel Dashwood early joined their father's business and became leading silk importers. They were also members of the British East India Company and the Worshipful Company of Vintners. They prospered despite the disruption in trade caused by the Anglo-Dutch Wars, and sent a frigate to trade in China in 1700.
In 1698, Sir Samuel and Francis bought the estate of West Wycombe from their brother-in-law Thomas Lewis, Francis eventually buying out his brothers' share. Francis was knighted in 1702, but a cooling of the relationship between the brothers had occurred, and they had ceased their joint business in 1704.
Sir Francis further improved his prospects by marriage, his first wife, Mary Jennings (m. c. 13 April 1683), having died in 1694, after bearing the following children:
On 30 May 1705, he married Lady Mary Fane (1676 - 19 August 1710), daughter of Vere Fane, 4th Earl of Westmorland. By her he had two children:
Sir Francis was further honored with a baronetcy in the new Baronetage of Great Britain in 1707. After the death of Mary, he married Mary King (d. c. 1717) on 17 June 1712, by whom he had four children:
His fourth and final wife was Lady Elizabeth Windsor (d. 1736), daughter of Thomas Hickman-Windsor, 1st Earl of Plymouth, whom he married on 21 July 1720. They had no children before his death in 1724.
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by James Hayes George Dodington |
Member of Parliament for Winchelsea with George Dodington 1708 Robert Bristow 1708–1713 1708–1713 |
Succeeded by Robert Bristow George Dodington |
| Baronetage of Great Britain | ||
| New creation | Baronet (of West Wycombe) 1707–1724 |
Succeeded by Francis Dashwood |