Francis Lewis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Francis Lewis
Born	(1713-03-21)March 21, 1713 Llandaff, Wales
Died	December 31, 1802(1802-12-31) (aged 89) New York City, U.S.
Resting place	Trinity Church Cemetery, New York City
Education	Westminster School
Occupation	Merchant, politician
Known for	Signer of the United States Declaration of Independence
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Annesley ​ ​ (m. 1745; her death 1778)​
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Francis Lewis (born March 21, 1713 – died December 31, 1802) was an important person in American history. He was a merchant from Wales who later became a politician. He is famous for signing the United States Declaration of Independence. He represented New York State when he signed this important document.

Early Life and Business

Francis Lewis was born in Llandaff, Wales, on March 21, 1713. He was the only child of Morgan and Anne Lewis. He went to school at Westminster School in London, England.

After finishing school, Lewis started working in a trading business in London. When he turned 21, he inherited some money from his father. He used this money to buy goods and sailed to New York City in 1734 or 1735. He left some goods with a business partner, Edward Annesley, in New York. He took the rest to Philadelphia to sell.

Lewis traveled a lot for his business. He visited many ports in Europe, including St. Petersburg in Russia. In 1756, he was working as a British agent when he was captured. He was sent to France and held as a prisoner. After he was released and returned home, he started to get involved in politics.

Political Career

Francis Lewis became very active in politics during the time of the American Revolution. He was a member of the Committee of Sixty, a group that helped govern New York. He also served in the New York Provincial Congress, which was New York's government before it became a state.

From 1775 to 1779, Lewis was a delegate to the Continental Congress. This was a meeting of representatives from all the American colonies. In 1776, he proudly signed the United States Declaration of Independence. This document declared that the American colonies were free from British rule.

In 1778, he also signed the Articles of Confederation. This was an early agreement that created a government for the new United States. In 1779, he became the Chairman of the Continental Board of Admiralty. This group was in charge of naval affairs.

Lewis also helped his son, Francis Lewis Jr., start a business. Another son, Morgan Lewis, fought in the Revolutionary War. Morgan later became the governor of New York State.

Family Life

Richard Stockton, Francis Lewis, and John Witherspoon are shown in the background of John Trumbull's famous painting, Declaration of Independence (1819).

In 1745, Francis Lewis married Elizabeth Annesley. She was the sister of his business partner. They had seven children together, but only three lived to be adults:

• Ann Lewis (1748–1802) married Captain George Robertson of the British Royal Navy. Her father did not approve of this marriage. Ann moved to England and never saw her family again.
• Francis Lewis Jr. (1749–1814) was a churchwarden in Flushing. He married Elizabeth Ludlow.
• Morgan Lewis (1754–1844) married Gertrude Livingston. She was the daughter of Judge Robert Livingston.

In 1775, Lewis moved his family to an estate in Whitestone, which is now part of Queens. During the American Revolutionary War, British soldiers destroyed their home. They also arrested his wife, Elizabeth. She was held captive for weeks without proper clothes or food. These hardships ruined her health. After she was released in a prisoner exchange, she died in 1778.

Francis Lewis passed away on December 31, 1802. His memorial at Trinity Church Cemetery in New York City lists his death year as 1803.

Legacy

A memorial to Francis Lewis at Trinity Church Cemetery in New York City.

Francis Lewis is remembered in many ways. His son, Morgan Lewis, became a very important figure in New York. He served as governor and held many other offices.

Several places in Queens, New York are named after Francis Lewis:

• Francis Lewis High School is a large public high school.
• P.S. 79 is an elementary school called "The Francis Lewis School."
• The Francis Lewis Boulevard is a long road that runs through Queens. Locals sometimes call it "Franny Lew" or "Franny Lewie."
• Francis Lewis Park is located near the Bronx Whitestone Bridge.
• A Masonic Lodge (a type of club) in Whitestone is also named Francis Lewis #273.