Francis Lewis

Francis Lewis (March 21, 1713 – December 31, 1802) was an American merchant and a Founding Father of the United States.¹ He was a signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation as a representative of New York in the Continental Congress.

Early life

Lewis was born in Llandaff, Wales, on March 21, 1713. He was the son of Morgan Lewis and Anne Lewis (née Pettingale) of Newport.²³ Lewis was educated at Westminster School in London.²

Career

Lewis entered a mercantile house in London until he turned 21 and inherited some properties left by his father. Lewis sold the properties and used the proceeds to acquire merchandise, set sail for New York City, arriving there in about 1737. He left some of the goods in New York to be sold by Edward Annesley, his business partner, and brought the rest to Philadelphia.⁴ After two years in Philadelphia, he returned to New York.⁵

Lewis made several trans-Atlantic trips, visiting several northern European ports, Saint Petersburg, northern Scotland, and Africa. He was taken prisoner while he served as a British mercantile agent in 1756 and sent to France for imprisonment. On his release and his return home, he became active in politics.⁵