William Henry Francis (February 28, 1879 – January 26, 1942) was a Negro leagues Third baseman for a few years before the founding of the first Negro National League, and in its first few seasons.

"[3] Sources show Lewis stood 5 foot, 5 inches tall.

[8] When Francis left Chicago in 1919, he played the rest of the season for the Detroit Stars.

At the forming of the first Negro National League, the 41-year-old Francis found himself on the Hilldale Club where he would also manage the team.

He is buried at Lincoln Cemetery in Blue Island, Illinois.