Charles Spencer Francis
Charles Spencer Francis | |
---|---|
United States Minister to Greece | |
In office March 2, 1901 – December 24, 1902 | |
President | William McKinley Theodore Roosevelt |
Preceded by | Arthur Sherburne Hardy |
Succeeded by | John B. Jackson |
Personal details | |
Born | Troy, New York, U.S. | June 17, 1853
Died | December 1, 1911 Troy, New York, U.S. | (aged 58)
Resting place | Oakwood Cemetery 42°45′50″N 73°39′59″W / 42.76389°N 73.66639°W |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse |
Alice Evans (m. 1878) |
Parents |
|
Rank | Colonel |
Charles Spencer Francis (June 17, 1853 – December 1, 1911) was an American diplomat and newspaper editor.
Early life and education
The son of diplomat and newspaper publisher John M. Francis and Harriet E. Tucker,[1] Charles Spencer Francis was born on June 17, 1853.[2] He studied at Cornell University from 1870 to 1871,[3] before joining his father in Greece as his secretary.[4] His mission completed, Francis thus returned to the United States and Cornell in 1874.[3]
At Cornell, Francis proved to be an excellent rower, setting the world record in intercollegiate single scull competition[clarification needed] in 1876 (which stood long after his death, up until his grandson also attended Cornell).[5] He graduated from Cornell the next year with a Bachelor of Science degree.[3]
Newspaperman
He went to work for his father's newspaper, The Troy Times, as a reporter,[2] and worked his way up to the editor's desk. He bought a stake in the paper, then made it an equal one. Upon his father's death in 1897, Francis took over the paper entirely.[6]
Diplomatic career
Francis, a Republican,
He returned to diplomacy in 1906, when President
He was officially introduced to the Emperor's court on January 30, 1907.[9] Three years later, on the eve of his departure, the Emperor received him in a farewell audience.[10]
He was replaced by Richard C. Kerens.[11]
Other activities
A member of
In 1903, Francis became a member of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York,[6] which he resigned upon his nomination as ambassador.[1]
Personal life
Francis married Alice Evans, the daughter of a Cornell professor,[4] on May 23, 1878;[1] and they had five children, two sons and three daughters.[13]
Francis died from myocarditis on December 1, 1911,[3] and was buried at Oakwood Cemetery.[13]
References
- ^ a b c d John William Leonard (1907). Men of America: A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporaries. L. R. Hamersly. pp. 908–909.
- ^ a b "To Represent US Abroad". New-York Tribune. December 30, 1900. p. 14. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Obituary: Charles S. Francis, '77". Cornell Alumni News. Vol. 14, no. 10. Ithaca, New York. December 6, 1911. p. 111. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c "A New Ambassador". New-York Tribune. March 20, 1906. p. 3. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ "Mr. Storer's Recall". New-York Tribune. March 28, 1906. p. 4. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ "Court Reception for Francis". Democrat and Chronicle. January 31, 1907. p. 10. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ "Francis leaving Austria". Buffalo Morning Express and Illustrated Buffalo Express. April 2, 1910. p. 12. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ "Colonel Charles S. Francis" (PDF). Cornell Alumni News. Vol. 3, no. 15. January 9, 1901. p. 1. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ a b "Newspaper Proprietor and Diplomat is Summoned to the Great Beyond". The Post-Star. December 2, 1911. p. 1. Retrieved March 8, 2020.