[6] Francis, a Republican,[1] was appointed to his father's old post of United States Minister to Greece, Serbia, and Romania in 1900, under President William McKinley.

[7] He returned to diplomacy in 1906, when President Theodore Roosevelt nominated Francis to another of his father's old posts: that of United States Ambassador to Austria-Hungary;[6] upon the recall of Bellamy Storer.

[11] A member of Zeta Psi, he served in the New York State National Guard under Joseph Bradford Carr, ultimately attaining the rank of colonel.

[12] He was also a vice president of the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society,[4] and a member of Sons of the Revolution.

[3] In 1903, Francis became a member of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York,[6] which he resigned upon his nomination as ambassador.