Charles Spencer Francis
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Charles Spencer Francis | |
|---|---|
 Francis, circa 1901 | |
| United States Ambassador to Austria | |
| In office May 29, 1906 – April 1, 1910 | |
| President | Theodore Roosevelt William Howard Taft |
| Preceded by | Bellamy Storer |
| Succeeded by | Richard C. Kerens |
| United States Minister to Romania | |
| In office October 16, 1901 – December 24, 1902 | |
| President | Theodore Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Arthur Sherburne Hardy |
| Succeeded by | John B. Jackson |
| United States Minister to Serbia | |
| In office May 13, 1901 – December 24, 1902 | |
| President | William McKinley Theodore Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Arthur Sherburne Hardy |
| Succeeded by | John B. Jackson |
| 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 | June 17, 1853 Troy, New York, U.S. |
| Died | December 1, 1911 (aged 58) Troy, New York, U.S. |
| 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 |
|
| Alma mater | Cornell University (B.S.) |
| Occupation | Newspaper editor, diplomat |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | New York State National Guard |
| Rank | Colonel |
Charles Spencer Francis (June 17, 1853 – December 1, 1911) was an American diplomat and newspaper editor.
Early life and education
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]Francis, a Republican,[1] was appointed to his father's old post of United States Minister to Greece, Serbia, and Romania in 1900, under President William McKinley.[4] Two years later, Francis resigned to attend to his newspaper and other business interests.[7]
He returned to diplomacy in 1906, when President Theodore Roosevelt nominated Francis to another of his father's old posts: that of the United States Ambassador to Austria—at the time, the United States Ambassador to Austria-Hungary;[6] upon the recall of Bellamy Storer. The Emperor, Franz Joseph, accepted; and his appointment was announced by the Foreign Ministry on March 28, 1906.[8] Two months later, Francis presented his credentials.
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
[edit]A member of Zeta Psi, he served in the New York State National Guard under Joseph Bradford Carr, ultimately attaining the rank of colonel.[12] He was also a vice president of the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society,[4] and a member of Sons of the Revolution.[3]
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
[edit]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
[edit]- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d "CHARLES S. FRANCIS DEAD.; Ex-Ambassador to Austria-Hungary and Owner of The Troy Times". The New York Times. December 2, 1911. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ "3 GENERATIONS BLEND IN CORNELL OARSMAN; John M. Francis Jr., a Freshman, Follows in Steps of Father and Grandfather". The New York Times. May 18, 1924. 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.
- ^ "DIPLOMATIC CORPS CHANGES.; H. L. Wilson, Minister to Chile, Succeeds Charles S. Francis as Minister to Greece -- Others Promoted". The New York Times. October 15, 1902. 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.
- ^ "KERENS FOR AMBASSADOR.; Will Probably Be Appointed to the Embassy at Vienna". The New York Times. November 27, 1909. 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.
External links
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