John Richard Francis (March 3, 1856 – May 23, 1913) was an American physician and educator from

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

A graduate of the

University of Michigan , mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth" , former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821) , budget = $10.3 billion (2021) , endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...

, Francis established a private sanatorium, taught and practiced

obstetrics Obstetrics is the field of study concentrated on pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. As a medical specialty, obstetrics is combined with gynecology under the discipline known as obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), which is a surgi ...

at Howard University and its

hospital A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment with specialized health science and auxiliary healthcare staff and medical equipment. The best-known type of hospital is the general hospital, which typically has an emerge ...

, and served on the District of Columbia school board.

Booker T. Washington Booker Taliaferro Washington (April 5, 1856November 14, 1915) was an American educator, author, orator, and adviser to several presidents of the United States. Between 1890 and 1915, Washington was the dominant leader in the African-American c ...

described Francis as "one of the best known physicians" in D.C.

Early life and education

Francis was born in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., on March 3, 1856. His father, Richard "Dick" Francis, was an African American caterer and bartender at the well-known Hancock's Restaurant near the

U.S. Capitol The United States Capitol, often called The Capitol or the Capitol Building, is the Seat of government, seat of the Legislature, legislative branch of the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government, which is form ...

(John R. purchased Hancock's in 1885). His mother was Mary E. Francis, a homemaker. Francis attended preparatory school at Howard University from 1868 to 1872 before graduating from the

Wesleyan Academy Wesleyan theology, otherwise known as Wesleyan–Arminian theology, or Methodist theology, is a theological tradition in Protestant Christianity based upon the ministry of the 18th-century evangelical reformer brothers John Wesley and Charles We ...

in Wilbraham, Massachusetts. He began his medical education under the tutelage of Christopher Christian Cox and studied medicine at Howard University from 1875 to 1877. He graduated

magna cum laude Latin honors are a system of Latin phrases used in some colleges and universities to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. The system is primarily used in the United States. It is also used in some So ...

with his doctorate of medicine from the

in 1878.

Medical career

Less than twenty years after graduation, Francis had become "the leading Colored physician of Washington, D.C." In April 1894, he was appointed first assistant surgeon at the

Freedman's Hospital Howard University Hospital, previously known as Freedmen's Hospital, is a major hospital located in Washington, D.C., built on the site of the previous Griffith Stadium. The hospital has served the African-American community in the area for over ...

. As the hospital's interim chief surgeon from April 16, 1894 to June 30, 1895, he reformed patient care, established a training program for nurses, and advocated for more government funding. He became the hospital's obstetrician and served as demonstrator and clinical lecturer in obstetrics in Howard University's medical department. In November 1894, Francis founded a private

sanatorium A sanatorium (from Latin '' sānāre'' 'to heal, make healthy'), also sanitarium or sanitorium, are antiquated names for specialised hospitals, for the treatment of specific diseases, related ailments and convalescence. Sanatoriums are often ...

on Pennsylvania Avenue. While the Francis Sanatorium catered to physically sick or convalescent patients from the city's Black middle class, the clinical staff also treated poor African Americans. A contemporary lauded the sanitarium as "being the only place of its kind in the United States, established, owned and managed by a colored man." Ideologically, Francis aligned with

, calling for Black progress through self-education and entrepreneurship. Francis was highly active in the District of Columbia's civic affairs. Both Francis and his wife served on the D.C. Board of Education, though he resigned in disappointment at lacking support to improve the education Black students. Francis had joined the board in 1887. In 1906, he joined the District of Columbia Board of Health. He served as pallbearer at

Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass (born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, February 1817 or 1818 – February 20, 1895) was an American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. After escaping from slavery in Maryland, he became ...

's funeral in 1906, represented D.C. at the National Conference of Charities and Collections in 1909, served on the committee for construction of the Carnegie Library at Howard University in 1909, became a member of the

National Medical Association The National Medical Association (NMA) is the largest and oldest national organization representing African American physicians and their patients in the United States. The NMA is a 501(c)(3) national professional and scientific organization repr ...

in 1910, and joined the Howard University board of trustees in 1912. He belonged to the Civic Club, the Washington Automobile Club, and other associations.

Personal life

Francis married Bettie Francis in 1881 and had five children, two of whom became physicians and a third of whom became a Harvard-trained lawyer. In addition to their Washington residence, they owned a summer home in

Uniontown, Maryland Uniontown is an unincorporated community in Carroll County, Maryland, United States. The community is home to the Uniontown Historic District, added to the National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) ...

. Francis died at his Washington home on May 23, 1913. Interment was at Woodlawn Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Francis, John R. 1856 births 1913 deaths 20th-century African-American academics 20th-century American academics 19th-century African-American physicians 19th-century American physicians 20th-century African-American physicians 20th-century American physicians American obstetricians Howard University faculty Howard University trustees Physicians from Washington, D.C. University of Michigan alumni Burials at Woodlawn Cemetery (Washington, D.C.) 19th-century surgeons 20th-century surgeons