Francis De Sales
ST.
FRANCIS I., King of the Two Sicilies, son of Ferdinand I.; born in Naples, Aug. 19, 1777, and twice during the lifetime of his father he carried on the government of the kingdom under the name of viceroy; first in 1812, when a constitution was granted to Sicily; and afterward in 1820, during the troubles which broke out in Naples and Palermo.
He mounted the throne in 1825, and died in Naples, Dec. 8, 1830. He was succeeded by Ferdinand II. (Bomba), who, dying in 1859, was followed by Francis II., who lost his throne in 1861.
FRANCIS, DAVID ROWLAND, an American public official, born in Richmond, Ky., in 1850. He graduated from Washington University in 1870. He engaged in business and became a director and official in many important financial institutions. From 1889 to 1893, he was governor of Missouri. He was appointed Secretary of the Interior by President Cleveland, in 1896, serving for a year.
He was president of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904. In 1916 he was appointed ambassador to Russia, serving until compelled to leave by the Bolshevik Government, in 1919.
FRANCIS, ST., or FRANCIS OF AS- SISI, the founder of the order of Franciscan friars; born in Assisi, Umbria, in 1182. He was the son of a merchant, and was said to be of dissolute habits; but on recovering from a dangerous illness he became enthusiastically devout, undergoing every species of penance and mortification. Thinking his extravagance proceeded from insanity, his father had him closely confined. Being taken before the Bishop of Assisi, in order formally to resign all claim to his paternal estate, he cheerfully resigned everything. He was now looked upon as a saint, and great numbers joining him in his vow of poverty, he drew up rules for their use, which being sanctioned by Pope Innocent III., the order of Franciscans was established. In 1219 he held a chapter which was attended by 5,000 friars. After having made a fruitless effort to convert the Sultan Meleddin, he returned to Assisi, where he died, Oct. 4, 1226, and was canonized by Pope Gregory IX. in 1230.