Abner Hunt Francis

Abner Hunt Francis (1813 – March 28, 1872) was an African-American abolitionist and entrepreneur who fought for equality in New Jersey, Oregon, and British Columbia.

While in New Jersey, Francis protested the American Colonization Society, acted as an agent for the Liberator, and attended national black conventions.

Francis later became a founding member of the Buffalo Anti-Slavery Society and sought progressive change such as school integration and even coordinated a state suffrage campaign.

Shortly after opening their boarding house, Abner's brother was jailed for violating the territorial exclusion law of 1849.

In December 1851, an exception petition signed by 225 Oregon residents was presented to the territorial legislature which sparked an unsuccessful attempt to abolish the exclusion law.