Tench Francis was an American lawyer. He is regarded for his service as an attorney-general of Pennsylvania from 1741 to 1755, and recorder of Philadelphia from 1750 till 1755.
Background
Tench Francis was probably born around 1702 in Ireland, most likely in Dublin and was a descendant of Philip Francis, Mayor of Plymouth, England, in 1642, and the son of John Francis, dean of Lismorc, Ireland, and rector of St. Mary’s Church, Dublin, who married a Miss Tench. His brother, Philip, was the father of Sir Philip Francis, the reputed author of the Junius Letters.
Despite the fact that he attained eminence in after life, held high office and became the undisputed leader of the Pennsylvania bar of his time, very little is known of the intimate details of his life (Eastman, post).
Education
Tench received his education in England, studied law in London, and went to America before 1720.
Career
After receiving his law degree in London, Tench Francis went to America before 1720 in the capacity of attorney for Lord Baltimore, taking up his residence in Kent County, Maryland, where he opened a law office. From 1726 to 1734 he was clerk of Talbot County Court, in which latter year he was elected burgess for Talbot County in the Maryland Assembly, continuing a member of the legislature for three years.
In 1736 he became deputy commissary-general and registrar of wills of Talbot County, an office which he held till 1738. In the latter year he moved to Philadelphia, and there acquired an extensive practise. He had not only a profound knowledge of law but a natural gift of eloquence as well, which placed him in a class by himself as an advocate. As a consequence, in the brief space of three years he became recognized as the leader of the bar throughout the state.
In 1741 he was appointed attorney-general of Pennsylvania. In this position he maintained his high reputation, and during his tenure of office labored unceasingly to maintain the effective and impartial administration of the law within his jurisdiction. He acted as one of the Pennsylvania representatives on the joint commission to adjust the boundaries of that province and Maryland in 1750. In the same year he was appointed recorder of Philadelphia and continued to perform the duties of both his offices with eminent success for five years.
When he retired in 1755 his health had been undermined by his strenuous labors. At the time of his death in Philadelphia, Franklin's Pennsylvania Gazette stated that he had served the province “with the highest Reputation. ”
Achievements
Tench Francis was a prominent lawyer and jurist in colonial Maryland and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who achieved his high reputation after the promotion in 1741, when he was appointed attorney-general of Pennsylvania. During his tenure in the office, he labored unceasingly to maintain the effective and impartial administration of the law within his jurisdiction.
In 1750 he was appointed recorder of Philadelphia and despite the heavy nature of his responsibilities, continued to perform the duties of both his offices with eminent success for five years.
Connections
Tench Francis married Elizabeth, daughter of Foster Turbutt of “Ottwell, ” Talbot County, December 29, 1724, “under romantic circumstances” (O. Tilghman, post).
His daughter, Margaret, married Chief Justice Edward Shippen; a grandson, Colonel Tench Tilghman, was one of Washington’s aides, and a great-grandson, John Brown Francis, was governor of Rhode Island.
