Francis, JOHN

Francis, JOHN, publisher of the Athenæum for half a century, was born in 1811. In August 1831 he entered the Athenæum office as a clerk, and two months later became its publisher, a position he held till his death, 6th April 1882. Francis took an active part in the movement for the repeal of advertisement duty on newspapers, as also the compulsory stamp and paper duty. The 'John Francis Pensions' were established by the News-vendors' Benevolent Institute, as a memorial of him. See John Francis, publisher of the Athenæum, by C. J. Francis (2 vols. 1888).