Francis Lewis: Merchant, Patriot, Signer of the Declaration

Every Fourth of July, as we raise the flag and fire up the grill, we sometimes also spare some thought for the founders, the (mostly) men whose dreams, courage, and persistence made the lives we enjoy today possible. You know the list: Jefferson, who could turn a phrase as easily as he could turn a head; Adams, whose voice could probably shatter glass; Franklin, who was a walking, talking, printing-press-owning meme machine.

But not every founder’s name comes so readily to mind. Some have been buried under the weight of passing time, and some were only lightly sketched into the history books in the first place. And then there are others who hide in plain sight. Their names are part of the fabric of our everyday lives, yet their contributions to history have dimmed in our memories. Consider, for example, Francis Lewis, a founder who lived right in our own backyard. Today, streets, parks, and schools bear his name in recognition of the role he played in our nation’s founding, yet many of us pass by, unaware. As we approach this momentous Fourth of July, now is an excellent time to dust off our memories and give the man his due.

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The New York Public Library. "Francis Lewis." The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1765 - 1896.

Born in Llandaff, Wales, in 1713, Lewis was orphaned by the time he was 5. His maternal aunt saw to his care, ultimately sending him to Westminster School in London, where he received the classical education expected of a gentleman of that era. He was then apprenticed to a London mercantile house, where he learned the disciplines of commerce and the practical skills that would define his future.

At 21, Lewis sold some property he had inherited from his father, invested in trade goods, and set off for New York. After leaving some of the merchandise in New York to be sold by his business partner, Edward Annesley, he brought the rest to Philadelphia, where he stayed for two years before returning to New York.

Lewis engaged in foreign trade, making several trans-Atlantic trips as well as voyages to ports throughout northern Europe, and to St. Petersburg and Africa, establishing himself as one of New York’s wealthiest merchants. In 1745, he married Elizabeth Annesley, the younger sister of his business partner.

In 1756, during the French and Indian War, Lewis was captured at Fort Oswego while serving as a British mercantile agent. He endured years of captivity, first in Montreal and later in France, and was returned to the colonies in 1763 as part of a prisoner exchange. In compensation for his lost years, the British government granted him 5,000 acres in New York, and he re-established his business, amassed a great fortune, and retired in 1761. In 1775, Lewis moved his family and possessions to his Whitestone estate, overlooking the East River.

For much of his life, Francis Lewis had every reason to remain loyal to Britain. He had prospered in the colonies and supported the British war efforts. But his experiences during the French and Indian War exposed the fragility of the system on which his livelihood depended. And after the wars, as Parliament imposed new taxes and asserted greater authority over the colonies, policies that once seemed distant now carried personal and economic consequences for merchants like Lewis. Lewis joined the Stamp Act Congress in 1765 and was a founding member of the Sons of Liberty in New York. Chafing under the yoke of colonialism, Lewis became a revolutionary.

As a delegate to the Second Continental Congress, Lewis became one of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, publicly committing his life, property, and honor to the cause of revolution. He also helped finance the purchase of weapons and supplies for the Continental Army, dedicating his fortune and future to the fledgling nation—ultimately, at great financial and personal cost.

Bronze plaque honoring local resident and Declaration of Independence signer Francis Lewis in Francis Lewis Park, Whitestone, NY. (Photo by Christina Gerbino)

In remembering Francis Lewis, we do more than honor one remarkable life. We rediscover how the history of a nation lives on in the history of a community, and we’re reminded that the story of America is also the story of the places we pass every day.