David R. Francis
Encyclopedia
David Rowland Francis was an American politician. He served in various positions including Mayor of Saint Louis, the 27th Governor of Missouri, and United States Secretary of the Interior
. He was the U.S. Ambassador to Russia
between 1916 and 1917, during the Russian Revolution of 1917
. He was a Democrat.
Francis was born in Richmond, Kentucky
in 1850. He graduated from Washington University in St. Louis
in 1870 where he was number 2 on the rolls of the Alpha Iota Chapter of Beta Theta Pi
fraternity. He was a successful businessman in St. Louis and served as the president of the Merchant's Exchange. He was married to the former Jane Perry, a granddaughter of former Missouri State Treasurer James Earickson
.
He was elected the mayor
of St. Louis, Missouri
in 1885. In 1888 he was elected Governor of Missouri, becoming the only Mayor of St. Louis to date elected Governor of the state. Francis served as the United States Secretary of the Interior
under President
Grover Cleveland
between 1896 and 1897.
Francis was one of the main promoters of the St. Louis World's Fair of 1904, serving as President of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
.
President
Woodrow Wilson
appointed Francis as the U.S. Ambassador to Russia
between 1916 and 1917, during the Russian Revolution of 1917
.
Francis died in St. Louis January 15, 1927, and was buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery.
In 1895 the University of Missouri
dedicated David R. Francis Quadrangle
in honor of the former governor who is credited with keeping the university in Columbia
after the fire of Academic Hall in 1892. Francis insisted that the state's land-grant university
remain in a central location, rather than moving to Sedalia
, as many state legislators desired. Instead, Sedalia was awarded the Missouri State Fair
as compensation. A bronze bust of Francis' face sits at the south end of Francis Quad
near the steps of Jesse Hall
. A popular MU student tradition is to rub Governor Francis' nose before taking a test in order to get an 'A.'
Francis Field, the track/soccer/football stadium at Washington University in St. Louis
as well as the adjacent Gym
nasium are named in Francis' honor. Francis Field was the site of the 1904 Summer Olympics
in which Francis attended the opening ceremony and officially opened the games as the representative for the host nation.
In 1916, he gave 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) of land to the city of St. Louis, Missouri
as a Christmas
gift. Today it is a park that bears his name.
United States Secretary of the Interior
The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
. He was the U.S. Ambassador to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
between 1916 and 1917, during the Russian Revolution of 1917
Russian Revolution of 1917
The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The Tsar was deposed and replaced by a provisional government in the first revolution of February 1917...
. He was a Democrat.
Francis was born in Richmond, Kentucky
Richmond, Kentucky
There were 10,795 households out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.6% were non-families. Of all households, 34.7% were made up of individuals and 8.8% had...
in 1850. He graduated from Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
in 1870 where he was number 2 on the rolls of the Alpha Iota Chapter of Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi , often just called Beta, is a social collegiate fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi. It has over 138 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada...
fraternity. He was a successful businessman in St. Louis and served as the president of the Merchant's Exchange. He was married to the former Jane Perry, a granddaughter of former Missouri State Treasurer James Earickson
James Earickson
James Earickson was a U.S. politician from Missouri.James Earickson was born in Isle of Kent, Maryland, and moved to Missouri in 1818. He was elected to the Missouri State Senate in August, 1828. Less than five months later, in January, 1829, he was appointed as State Treasurer of Missouri...
.
He was elected the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
in 1885. In 1888 he was elected Governor of Missouri, becoming the only Mayor of St. Louis to date elected Governor of the state. Francis served as the United States Secretary of the Interior
United States Secretary of the Interior
The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
under President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
between 1896 and 1897.
Francis was one of the main promoters of the St. Louis World's Fair of 1904, serving as President of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Louisiana Purchase Exposition
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition, informally known as the Saint Louis World's Fair, was an international exposition held in St. Louis, Missouri, United States in 1904.- Background :...
.
President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
appointed Francis as the U.S. Ambassador to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
between 1916 and 1917, during the Russian Revolution of 1917
Russian Revolution of 1917
The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The Tsar was deposed and replaced by a provisional government in the first revolution of February 1917...
.
Francis died in St. Louis January 15, 1927, and was buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery.
In 1895 the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
dedicated David R. Francis Quadrangle
David R. Francis Quadrangle
David R. Francis Quadrangle is the historical center of the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. It is named after Missouri governor David R. Francis, and is often simply called "The Quad." Within the quad are two of the most recognizable symbols of the school, Jesse Hall and The Columns...
in honor of the former governor who is credited with keeping the university in Columbia
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
after the fire of Academic Hall in 1892. Francis insisted that the state's land-grant university
Land-grant university
Land-grant universities are institutions of higher education in the United States designated by each state to receive the benefits of the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890....
remain in a central location, rather than moving to Sedalia
Sedalia, Missouri
Sedalia is a city located about south of the Missouri River in Pettis County, Missouri. U.S. Highway 50 and U.S. Highway 65 intersect in the city. As of 2006, the city had a total population of 20,669. It is the county seat of Pettis County. The Sedalia Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of...
, as many state legislators desired. Instead, Sedalia was awarded the Missouri State Fair
Missouri State Fair
The Missouri State Fair is the state fair for Missouri which has operated since 1901 in Sedalia, Missouri. It lasts 11 days. It includes daily concerts, exhibits and competitions of animals, homemade crafts, shows, and many food/lemonade stands. Its most famous event, which has run since its...
as compensation. A bronze bust of Francis' face sits at the south end of Francis Quad
David R. Francis Quadrangle
David R. Francis Quadrangle is the historical center of the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. It is named after Missouri governor David R. Francis, and is often simply called "The Quad." Within the quad are two of the most recognizable symbols of the school, Jesse Hall and The Columns...
near the steps of Jesse Hall
Jesse Hall
Jesse Hall is the main administration building for the University of Missouri. Built in 1893 after Academic Hall burned to the ground, the building is one of the major symbols of the University. It is located at the south end of the David R...
. A popular MU student tradition is to rub Governor Francis' nose before taking a test in order to get an 'A.'
Francis Field, the track/soccer/football stadium at Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
as well as the adjacent Gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
nasium are named in Francis' honor. Francis Field was the site of the 1904 Summer Olympics
1904 Summer Olympics
The 1904 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the III Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States from 1 July 1904, to November 23, 1904, at what is now known as Francis Field on the campus of Washington University...
in which Francis attended the opening ceremony and officially opened the games as the representative for the host nation.
In 1916, he gave 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) of land to the city of St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
as a Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
gift. Today it is a park that bears his name.
Further reading
- Barnes, Harper. 2001. Standing on a volcano: the life and times of David Rowland Francis. St. Louis: Missouri Historical Society Press in association with the Francis Press. ISBN 1883982138
- Francis, David Rowland, and Jamie H. Cockfield. 1981. Dollars and diplomacy: Ambassador David Rowland Francis and the fall of tsarism, 1916-17. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press.
- Francis, David Rowland, Robert Chadwell Williams, and Robert Lester. 1986. Russia in transition: the diplomatic papers of David R. Francis, U.S. Ambassador to Russia, 1916-1918. Frederick, Md: University Publications of America.
External links
- David R. Francis at St. Louis Public Library: St. Louis Mayors.
- Standing on a Volcano: The Life and Times of David R. Francis by Harper Barnes, October 2001. ISBN 1-883982-17-0.