thumb|Francis Richard Plunkett, 1900
Sir Francis Richard Plunkett (3 February 1835 – 28 February 1907) was an Anglo-Irish diplomat.
Early life
Plunkett was born at Corbalton Hall in County Meath, Ireland. He was the youngest son of Arthur Plunkett, 9th Earl of Fingall and Louisa Emilia Corbally, daughter of Elias Corbally of Corbalton. He was educated at St Mary's College, Oscott. He left Tokyo in 1876 and served as Diplomatic Secretary in St Petersburg, Constantinople and Paris before being appointed Parkes's successor in Japan. He was noted for kindness and affability, which made him a great success in each of his diplomatic missions.
Plunkett was the British Minister in Tokyo, 1884–87, He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George while in Tokyo.
In 1900 he was appointed Ambassador at Vienna. The following year he was appointed to the Privy Council in February 1901, and was created a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) on 9 November 1901.
He retired in 1905 and died of heart failure in Paris in 1907, after suffering from a bout of influenza.