Roger North and his Siblings

The Norths were a large, gifted, and extraordinarily successful family. They are also extremely well documented: Roger North wrote an autobiography and lives of three of his brothers, and these are supplemented by extensive family correspondence. Ten siblings reached adulthood, and nine of them enjoyed enduring bonds of affection and mutual support. The tenth was the eldest son and heir, at odds with his siblings throughout their lives. The chapter shows how the second son, Francis, took over the heir’s responsibilities, advancing the careers of his younger brothers and finding husbands for his sisters, and how the others also provided generous mutual support. It explores too the factors behind the lifelong rift between the heir (who eventually inherited as Lord North) and the others. The North family provides a striking example of both sibling bonds and sibling rivalries.