His mother was the youngest daughter of Francis Hawkins of Bareilly, Bengal, India.

[2] His elder brother, Lord Inverurie, died unmarried in 1843 and Francis became heir apparent to his father, who died the following year on 11 July 1844 at which point he became the 8th Earl of Kintore, 8th Lord Keith of Inverurie and Keith Hall.

[2] On 28 May 1856, he became Lord Lieutenant of Kincardineshire succeeding James Carnegie, 9th Earl of Southesk.

He served in that role until 1863 when he was succeeded by Sir James Burnett, 10th Baronet.

After his death, he was succeeded by John Hamilton-Gordon, 1st Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair.