John Brown Francis
John Brown Francis | |
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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 | Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,U.S. | May 31, 1791
Died | August 9, 1864 Warwick,Rhode Island,U.S. | (aged 73)
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.[1][2]
Early life
[edit]John Brown Francis was born inPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania,on May 31, 1791, son of John Francis and Abigail Brown.[3]Francis' grandfather,John Brown,was aU.S. Representativefrom Rhode Island and a member of the family for whom Brown University was named.[4][5][6][7]
He attended the common schools ofProvidence,Rhode Island,and graduated fromBrown Universityin 1808.[1]
Career
[edit]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.[1]
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).[1]
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.[1]
Personal life
[edit]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:[3]
- Abby Francis (1823–1841), who died unmarried[3]
- John Francis (1826–1827), who died an infant[3]
- Anne Brown Francis (1828–1896), who marriedMarshall 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 ofThomas Willing Francisand 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 ofSeth Adamsand 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 inWarwick, Rhode Island.[3][1]
References
[edit]- Notes
- ^abcdef"FRANCIS, John Brown - Biographical Information".bioguide.congress.gov.Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.Retrieved10 February2017.
- ^"Guide to the Francis Family Papers 1783-1901 (bulk 1783-1838)"(PDF).library.brown.edu.Rhode Island Historical Society. 2009.Retrieved10 February2017.
- ^abcdefghijkIsham, Norman M. (January 1918).Collections of the Rhode Island Historical Society Vol. XI(No. 1. ed.).Rhode Island Historical Society.Retrieved10 February2017.
- ^"John Brown (1736-1803) Papers".Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts Division.1995.RetrievedJanuary 28,2015.
- ^"John Brown".Gaspee Virtual Archives.April 2013 [originally posted 2003].RetrievedJanuary 28,2015.
- ^The Charter of Brown University(PDF),Providence, RI: Brown University, 1945,retrieved27 January2015
- ^"Report of the Brown University Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice"(PDF).Brown University.October 2006.RetrievedJanuary 28,2015.
- Sources
- United States Congress."John Brown Francis (id: F000336)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
External links
[edit]- United States Congress."John Brown Francis (id: F000336)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- 1791 births
- 1864 deaths
- Members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
- Rhode Island state senators
- Governors of Rhode Island
- Democratic Party governors of Rhode Island
- United States senators from Rhode Island
- Brown University alumni
- Chancellors of Brown University
- Rhode Island Whigs
- 19th-century American politicians
- Law and Order Party of Rhode Island politicians
- Brown family
- Politicians from Philadelphia
- Burials at North Burying Ground (Providence)
- Litchfield Law School alumni