Charles Spencer Francis

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 as secretary in Greece.[4] His mission done, 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 in 1876 (which stood long after his death, up to when his grandson also attended Cornell).[5] He graduated from Cornell the next year with a bachelor of science degree.[3]

He proceeded to join his father's newspaper, The Troy Times, as a reporter;[2] he then worked his way up to the editor's desk, then bought a stake in the paper, then made it an equal one, and, finally, upon his father's death in 1897, took over the paper entirely.[6]

A Republican,[1] Francis 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 the other 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; it was announced by the Foreign Ministry on March 28;[8] and, two months later, Francis presented his credentials.

Francis 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]

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]

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]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Charles Spencer Francis.

• Charles Spencer Francis at the Office of the Historian