Dudley North, 4th Baron North

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Dudley North, 4th Baron North (1602–24 June 1677) of Kirtling Tower, Cambridgeshire, was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1628 and 1660. He was the elder son of Dudley North, 3rd Baron North, and Frances Brockett. He became a Knight of the Bath in 1616, studied at St John’s College, Cambridge in 1619, and joined Gray’s Inn the same year. In 1620 he served in the Netherlands during the Dutch–Portuguese War and traveled in Italy, France and Spain.

In 1628 he was elected MP for Horsham, but Parliament was dissolved in 1629. He later served as MP for Cambridgeshire in the Short Parliament (April 1640), the Long Parliament (November 1640), and the Convention Parliament (1660) after the Restoration. He became the 4th Baron North in January 1667 when his father died.

North was an accomplished writer on economic and religious topics. His works include Passages relating to the Long Parliament and Observations and Advices Oeconomical, and he also wrote poetry for private use. He died in 1677 and was buried at Kirtling on 27 June.

He married Anne Montagu, linking the Norths with the Montagu family, and they had 14 children. Notable sons included Charles (c. 1636–1691), who became the 5th Baron North; Francis North, who later served as Lord Chancellor; Dudley North, an economist; John North, master of Trinity College and Greek professor; and Roger North, a lawyer and historian. Daughters included Mary (married Sir William Spring), Jane Bridget (married William Henry Moss), and Elizabeth (Elizabeth Wiseman), a noted litigant. His granddaughter Dudleya North became a respected orientalist and scholar.