John Brown Francis

"Senator Francis" redirects here. For other uses, seeSenator Francis (disambiguation).

John Brown Francis
United States Senator fromRhode Island
In office January 25, 1844 – March 3, 1845
Preceded by	William Sprague III
Succeeded by	Albert C. Greene
13thGovernor 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 theRhode Island Senate
In office 1831 1842 1845–1856
Member of theRhode Island House of Representatives
In office 1821–1829
Personal details
Born	(1791-05-31)May 31, 1791 Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,U.S.
Died	August 9, 1864(1864-08-09)(aged 73) Warwick,Rhode Island,U.S.
Resting place	North Burial Ground,Providence,Rhode Island,U.S.
Political party	Whig Law and Order
Spouse(s)	Anne Carter Brown Elizabeth Francis Harrison
Profession	Politician,Manufacturer

John Brown Francis(May 31, 1791 – August 9, 1864) was a governor andUnited States SenatorfromRhode Island.

Early life

John Brown Francis was born inPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania,on May 31, 1791, son of John Francis and Abigail Brown.Francis' grandfather,John Brown,was aU.S. Representativefrom Rhode Island and a member of the family for whom Brown University was named.

He attended the common schools ofProvidence,Rhode Island,and graduated fromBrown Universityin 1808.

Career

He engaged in mercantile pursuits, attended theLitchfield Law School,and was admitted to thebarbut never practiced. Francis was a member of theRhode Island House of Representativesfrom 1821 to 1829 and a member of the board of trustees of Brown University from 1828 to 1857. He was a member of theRhode Island Senatein 1831 and 1842, and was the 13thGovernor of Rhode Islandfrom 1833 to 1838.

From 1841 to 1854, Francis waschancellorof Brown University; he was elected as a member of theLaw and Order Partyto the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation ofWilliam Spragueand served from January 25, 1844, to March 3, 1845. He was not a candidate for reelection; while in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Engrossed Bills (Twenty-eighth Congress).

Francis was a member of theRhode Island Senatefrom 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 inNorth Burial Ground,Providence.

Personal life

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

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

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

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

On August 9, 1864, John Brown Francis, aged 73, died inWarwick, Rhode Island.

References

Notes

Sources

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

External links

• John Brown FrancisatFind a Grave

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