- March 6, 1809, 217 years ago — Death of Thomas Heyward Jr..
- March 6, 1724, 302 years ago — Birth of Henry Laurens, President of the Continental Congress.
- March 7, 1707, 319 years ago — Birth of Stephen Hopkins, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
- March 7, 1699, 327 years ago — Birth of Susanna Boylston Adams, mother of John Adams.
Francis Lewis
LEWIS, Francis, signer of the Declaration of Independence, born in Llandaff, Wales, 21 March, 1713; died in New York city, 30 December, 1802.
He emigrated to America in his youth and became a successful merchant in New York. Lewis was captured by the French during the Seven Years’ War and held for some time in France. He later became active in colonial politics and was elected to the Continental Congress in 1775.
He signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. During the war, his Long Island estate was destroyed and his wife was imprisoned by British forces, suffering greatly before her release.
Lewis retired from public life after the Revolution and lived quietly in New York. He is remembered for his sacrifice and steadfast support of American independence.
Source:
Wilson, James Grant, and John Fiske, eds. Appleton’s Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1887. Patriot Echoes Archive
Founders:
No files found for this document.