Representative George Blinn Francis

George Blinn Francis (August 12, 1883 – May 20, 1967) was a United States Representative from New York and a member of the Republican Party whose single term in Congress coincided with a pivotal period in American history during World War I. He was born in Cranston, Rhode Island, on August 12, 1883. Raised in Rhode Island, he attended the University School in Providence, where he received his early education and preparation for college.

Francis pursued higher education at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, graduating in 1904. He then enrolled at Harvard Law School, from which he received his law degree in 1907. That same year he was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law in New York City, beginning a legal career that would span several decades and provide the foundation for his later public service.

Building on his legal background and Republican affiliation, Francis entered national politics in the 1910s. He was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-fifth Congress, representing a New York district in the U.S. House of Representatives, and served from March 4, 1917, to March 3, 1919. His term in office took place during a significant period in American history, as the United States entered and fought in World War I. During this time, Francis participated in the legislative process, contributing to debates and decisions affecting wartime policy and representing the interests of his New York constituents in the democratic process. He chose not to be a candidate for renomination in 1918, thus concluding his congressional service after a single term.

After leaving Congress, Francis resumed the practice of law in New York City, returning to private legal work while maintaining an active role in public affairs. His expertise led to his appointment as a special assistant United States attorney in Minnesota in 1926 and 1927, a position in which he assisted in representing the federal government in legal matters. This assignment extended his public service beyond New York and reflected the confidence placed in his legal abilities at the federal level.

In addition to his national and federal roles, Francis was active in local governance in New York. He was elected a member of the board of water commissioners of Tarrytown, New York, where he played a role in overseeing the community’s water resources and infrastructure. He served as president of the board, further demonstrating his engagement in municipal administration and local public service alongside his legal career.

Francis retired from active professional life in October 1953 and took up residence in Delray Beach, Florida. In his later years he remained in Florida, where he lived until his death. He died on May 20, 1967, in Boca Raton, Florida. George Blinn Francis was interred in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, closing a life that combined legal practice, federal service, and local governance, and that included a term in the U.S. House of Representatives during a critical era in the nation’s history.