Francis Osborne, 5th Duke of Leeds

Francis Godolphin Osborne, 5th Duke of Leeds ( born January 29, 1751 † January 31, 1799 ) was a British politician. His parents were Thomas Osborne, 4th Duke of Leeds, and Mary Godolphin, a daughter of Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin.

Osborne, of the courtesy title Marquess of Carmarthen introduced as heir apparent, was educated at Westminster School and at the Christ Church College at the University of Oxford. He was 1774 and 1775 Member of Parliament. 1776, he was appointed as Baron Osborne by a special royal decision in the House of Lords. In 1777 he was under King George III. appointed Lord Chamberlain of the Household of the Queen, from Germany dating Sophie Charlotte of Mecklenburg -Strelitz.

In the Upper House, he was a determined opponent of the Prime Minister Lord North, who brought him in 1780 to his positions as Lord Chamberlain and the Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire. He won the latter two years later back again.

1783 Osborne was suggested as ambassador to France, he refused this post but from and took over the government of William Pitt the 1782 newly created post of Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, which corresponded to the position of Foreign Minister. In 1789 he was after the death of his father Thomas Osborne Duke of Leeds and led from 1789 to 1790 the House of Lords.

After retiring from the Foreign Office (Foreign Office ), 1791, he took only a little part in politics. He died in London in 1799 at the age of 48 years. His first wife was Amelia (1754-1784), daughter of Robert Darcy, 4th Earl of Holderness, and from 1778 Baroness Conyers. His eldest son, George William Frederick Osborne succeeded him as Duke of Leeds and his mother as Baron Conyers.