Francis Dashwood, 15th Baron le Despencer (December, 1708 - December 11, 1781) was an English rake and politician, Chancellor of the Exchequer (1762-1763) and founder of The Hellfire Club.

He was born in London, and educated at Eton College where he became associated with William Pitt the Elder. Orphaned at age 16 he went on a grand tour of Europe in 1726.

For his activities in the Hellfire Club he was in his day widely regarded as being involved in devil worship.

Fictional references

In The Illuminatus! Trilogy Dashwood is mentioned as one of the original five leaders of the Illuminati.

|- style="text-align: center;" | width="30%" |Preceded by:
The Viscount Barrington | width="40%" style="text-align: center;" |Chancellor of the Exchequer
1762–1763 | width="30%" |Succeeded by:
George Grenville

|- style="text-align: center;" | width="30%" |Preceded by:
The Earl Gower | width="40%" style="text-align: center;" |Master of the Great Wardrobe
1763–1765 | width="30%" |Succeeded by:
The Earl of Ashburnham

|- style="text-align: center;" | width="30%" |Preceded by:
The Earl Temple | width="40%" style="text-align: center;" |Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire
1763–1781 | width="30%" |Succeeded by:
The Earl of Chesterfield