Loneliness, loss, and captivity reveal the shallow fortitude of a person or the depth of one’s temperament. With Francis Lewis, it is the latter. He experienced all three during his lifetime and the adversity shaped a man full of contribution to his country.

Mr. Lewis was born into a family of clergymen on March 21, 1713. His father was an Episcopal clergyman and his mother was the daughter of a clergyman. Tragedy struck his parents and he was orphaned around five years of age. His maiden aunt, a woman of intelligence and modest resources, welcomed him into her house. His mother’s family ensured a quality education with schooling in Scotland and at the prestigious Westminster School in London.

Francis Lewis entered a mercantile apprenticeship in London after graduating, and when he turned 21 years of age, Mr. Lewis set sail for America after he monetized some inherited property from his father. He arrived in New York City and, apart from two years in Philadelphia, made the city his new home. He continued to enlarge his mercantile business and engaged in several trans-Atlantic trading voyages. In 1745, he married Elizabeth Annesley, the sister of his business partner Edward Annesley. They had seven children, but only three survived into adulthood. 

The business continued to thrive into the next decade. When the French and Indian War was taking place, Lewis served as the clothing contractor for the British military at Fort Oswego. While at the fort, on one particular occasion, the outpost was attacked by French forces. The fort’s leadership surrendered to General Montcalm and his Indian allies. Gen. Montcalm permitted the Indians to take a small number of captives. Mr. Lewis was one of those chosen. He was able to establish good terms between himself and the chief and he was transferred to Montreal and then to France. Seven years later, he was freed in a prisoner exchange. The British government granted him 5,000 acres of land in current day Whitestone, which is in the northernmost part of Queens, New York. 

He rebuilt his business to fine form and retired in 1765. He entered public service due to Britain’s ad hoc tax policies. He was elected to both sessions of the Continental Congress. In 1775, he joined others in requesting King George III reconsider the hostile position he had taken against the colonies by signing the Olive Branch Petition. The king rebuffed the offer and the war intensified greatly.

Mr. Lewis’ support of the campaign for independence was also financial. He supplied much of the clothing supplies for General Schuyler’s men, such as felt hats, buckskin breeches, and coats. 

On July 2, 1776, he and the other New York delegates had to abstain due to the state assembly’s delay in authorizing approval. The assembly approved the vote for independence on July 9th. And Francis Lewis and the New York delegation signed the Declaration of Independence on August 2nd. In the same month, Mr. Lewis suffered greatly.

After the Battle of Brooklyn had ended, British Captain Birtch sent a troop of soldiers to destroy Mr. Lewis’ house. The targeting of influential colonists who turned on the crown was not unusual. In addition, a British warship fired on the house as the soldiers approached the house. Once inside, they exhaustively pillaged the property. Valuable papers, furniture, and other possessions were destroyed, and his wife, Elizabeth, was captured and held without bed or change of clothing, and provided little food.

General George Washington learned of her plight and had arrested Mrs. Barren, wife of the British Paymaster General and Mrs. Kempe, wife of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania. The general instructed they be treated in the same manner as Mrs. Lewis unless a prisoner exchange was arranged. Gen. Washington’s actions elicited the desired response from the British and an exchange took place. The inhumane treatment of Mrs. Lewis while in captivity compromised her health permanently. She suffered and eventually died in June of 1779.

Francis Lewis’ final, major contribution to the country was adding his support to the United States’ first constitution, The Articles of Confederation. In 1781, he retired from public service. In retirement, he served as a vestryman of Trinity Church and enjoyed the company of his grandchildren. On New Year’s Eve 1802, he died. His life demonstrated the power of the human spirit in the face of personal and national hardships.

Francis Lewis lived to be 89 years of age.