- Francis Lewis
Francis Lewis (
March 21 ,1713 –December 30 ,1803 ), was a signer of theUnited States Declaration of Independence as a representative ofNew York .Born in
Llandaff ,Cardiff ,Wales , he was the only child of Reverend Francis Lewis, but was orphaned at an early age. He went to live with his aunt and uncle soon after. He was educated inScotland and attended Westminster inEngland . He entered a mercantile house inLondon , then moved to Whitestone,New York in 1734. He was taken prisoner and shipped in a box toFrance while serving as a British mercantile agent in 1756. On his return to America, he became active in politics.He was a member of the
Committee of Sixty , a member of theNew York Provincial Congress , and was elected a delegate to theContinental Congress in 1775. In 1778, he signed the United StatesArticles of Confederation .His property on
Long Island, New York was destroyed in theRevolutionary War .His son Morgan Lewis served in the army during the Revolutionary War and later held many offices in New York State, including Governor.
Legacy
Francis Lewis's great-grandson, Manning Livingston, died at the
Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War. He also has many relatives stretching all the way to Idaho. His great-great-great grandson was hollywood directorWilliam A. Wellman .In
Queens, New York , a high school is named for Lewis. There is alsoFrancis Lewis Boulevard , which locals tend to refer to as "Franny Lew," stretching almost the entire north/south length of the borough, as well as Francis Lewis Park, which is located underneath the Queens approach of theBronx Whitestone Bridge . A Masonic Lodge, Francis Lewis #273, is also located in Whitestone , NYExternal links
*CongBio|L000282
*Find A Grave|id=621
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=francis+lewis+blvd+at+hook+creek+blvd,+queens,+ny&daddr=francis+lewis+boulevard+at+locke+ave,+queens,+ny Google Maps - Francis Lewis Boulevard]
* [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=11357&ie=UTF8&ll=40.795618,-73.823233&spn=0.009584,0.026393&om=1 Google Maps - Francis Lewis Park]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
