Road to Liberty: Francis Lewis

Francis Lewis was a Welsh immigrant, merchant, prisoner of war, and supporter of American independence.

He was born in Llandaff, Wales, on March 21, 1713, and educated in Scotland and London. After inheriting his father’s estate at 21, he moved to the American colonies in 1734. Lewis’s mercantile business thrived in New York and Pennsylvania, and he was contracted by the British military to provide troops with uniforms during the French and Indian War.

In 1756, Lewis was captured by French forces and reportedly shipped to Europe in a crate. He spent seven years as a prisoner of war before being released in a prisoner exchange and returning to America.

Back in New York, Lewis resumed his business and received 5,000 acres from British authorities as compensation for his imprisonment. He became active in colonial politics, protesting the Stamp Act of 1765 and supporting the growing independence movement. In 1775, Lewis was elected to the Continental Congress. He signed the Declaration of Independence on August 2, 1776, after New York granted formal approval. During the war, he supplied the Continental Army with clothing, weapons, and provisions.

His home was later pillaged by British troops, and his wife, Elizabeth, was captured and held under harsh conditions. Though released in a prisoner exchange, she never recovered and died in 1779.

Following her death, Lewis withdrew from politics and spent his remaining years with his family. He died on December 31, 1802, at the age of 89.