John Brown Francis

John Brown Francis (May 31, 1791 – August 9, 1864) was a governor and United States Senator from Rhode Island.[1][2]

John Brown Francis
United States senator from Rhode Island
In office January 25, 1844 – March 4, 1845
Preceded by	William Sprague III
Succeeded by	Albert C. Greene
13th Governor of Rhode Island
In office May 1, 1833 – May 2, 1838
Lieutenant	Jeffrey Hazard George Engs Jeffrey Hazard Benjamin B. Thurston
Preceded by	Lemuel H. Arnold
Succeeded by	William Sprague III
Member of the Rhode Island Senate
In office 1831 1842 1845–1856
Member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
In office 1821–1829
Personal details
Born	(1791-05-31)May 31, 1791 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died	August 9, 1864(1864-08-09) (aged 73) Warwick, Rhode Island
Resting place	North Burial Ground
Political party	Whig Law and Order Party
Spouse(s)	Anne Carter Brown Elizabeth Francis Harrison
Profession	Politician, Manufacturer

Early life

John Brown Francis was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 31, 1791, son of John Francis and Abigail Brown.[3] Francis' grandfather, John Brown, was a U.S. Representative from Rhode Island and a member of the family for whom Brown University was named.[4][5][6][7]

He attended the common schools of Providence, Rhode Island and graduated from Brown University in 1808.[1]

Career

He engaged in mercantile pursuits, attended the Litchfield Law School, and was admitted to the bar but never practiced. Francis was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1821 to 1829 and a member of the board of trustees of Brown University from 1828 to 1857. He was a member of the Rhode Island Senate in 1831 and 1842, and was the 13th Governor of Rhode Island from 1833 to 1838.[1]

From 1841 to 1854, Francis was chancellor of Brown University; he was elected as a member of the Law and Order Party to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of William Sprague and served from January 25, 1844, to March 4, 1845. He was not a candidate for reelection; while in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Engrossed Bills (Twenty-eighth Congress).[1]

Francis was a member of the Rhode Island Senate from 1845 to 1856, and then retired from public life and engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death at "Spring Green," Warwick, Rhode Island, in 1864; interment was in North Burial Ground, Providence.[1]

Personal life

In 1822, he married Anne Carter Brown (1794–1828), daughter of Nicholas Brown, Jr. (1769–1841) and granddaughter of Nicholas Brown, Sr. (1729–1791). Before her death in 1828, they had:[3]

• Abby Francis (1823–1841), who died unmarried[3]
• John Francis (1826–1827), who died an infant[3]
• Anne Brown Francis (1828–1896), who married Marshall Woods (1824–1899), son of Alva Woods and Almira Marshall, in 1848.[3]

In 1832, he married his cousin, Elizabeth Francis (1796–1866), widow of Henry Harrison and daughter of Thomas Willing Francis and Dorothy Willing. Together, they had:[3]

• Elizabeth Francis (1833–1901), who did not have children[3]
• Sally Francis (1834–1904), who did not have children[3]
• Sophia H. Francis (1836–1860), who married George William Adams (1834–1883), son of Seth Adams and Sarah Bigelow, in 1860, who did not have children[3]
• John Brown Francis (1838–1870), who did not have children[3]

On August 9, 1864, John Brown Francis, aged 73, died in Warwick, Rhode Island.[3][1]

References

Notes

1. "FRANCIS, John Brown - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
2. "Guide to the Francis Family Papers 1783-1901 (bulk 1783-1838)" (PDF). library.brown.edu. Rhode Island Historical Society. 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
3. Isham, Norman M. (January 1918). Collections of the Rhode Island Historical Society Vol. XI (No. 1. ed.). Rhode Island Historical Society. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
4. "John Brown (1736-1803) Papers". Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts Division. 1995. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
5. "John Brown". Gaspee Virtual Archives. April 2013 [originally posted 2003]. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
6. The Charter of Brown University (PDF), Providence, RI: Brown University, 1945, retrieved 27 January 2015
7. "Report of the Brown University Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice" (PDF). Brown University. October 2006. Retrieved January 28, 2015.

Sources

• United States Congress. "John Brown Francis (id: F000336)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

External links

• John Brown Francis at Find a Grave

Party political offices
Preceded by James Fenner	Democratic nominee for Governor of Rhode Island 1833, 1834, 1835, 1836, 1837, 1838	Succeeded by Nathaniel Bullock
Political offices
Preceded by Lemuel H. Arnold	Governor of Rhode Island 1833–1838	Succeeded by William Sprague III
U.S. Senate
Preceded by William Sprague III	U.S. senator (Class 1) from Rhode Island January 25, 1844 – March 4, 1845 Served alongside: James F. Simmons	Succeeded by Albert C. Greene

• United States Congress. "John Brown Francis (id: F000336)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.