Francis Herbert Brownell (April 21, 1867 – March 8, 1954) was a Washington state pioneer, lawyer, and businessman.

As an active pioneer and developer of Everett, he was a member of the hospital board, trustee of the city library, director of the First National Bank, and president of the Chamber of Commerce.

In later years, Brownell worked for the Guggenheim family for their American Smelting & Refining Company and at the Seattle National Bank.

His partnership with the Guggenheims lasted a long time, and Brownell occupied managerial positions in their company from 1909 until his retirement from business in 1950.

Brownell's father, Frederick, was born on Rhode Island, and was a town clerk and treasurer, and also a member of the state legislature.

He married Ann Coggshall, whose ancestor was John Coggeshall, founder of the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

That year, Brownell participated in Judge W. W. Black's election campaign as a specialist who fully analyzed and explained the new law.

[5] In 1905, Brownell moved to Seattle, where he kept practicing law, and also worked for the Guggenheim family in their smelting and refining business.

[12] By 1919,[7] Brownell moved to New York,[13] accepting the Guggenheims' invitation to fill the executive position in their American Smelting & Refining Company.

[5] Besides his main field of work in Everett and Seattle, Brownell invested in real estate in both cities as well as in logging and lumber companies.

[4] In New York, he was a member of the executive committee and a director of the Chase National Bank, the General Cable Corporation, the Republic Brass Corporation, the Northern Pacific Railway, the Mortgage Bond Company,[7] and the American Sugar & Refining Company; president of the Washington State Bar Association,[5] and board chairman of the Revere Copper & Brass Incorporation.

95, F. & A. M. of Everett, the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and was one of the organizers of the Snohomish County Agricultural Society.

[8][5][3] Both sons followed in their father's footsteps: Francis H. Jr. worked at the Seattle National Bank, occupying the position of a vice president,[8][7] and Kenneth C. was president and chairman of the American Smelting & Refining Company[5][3][12] and subsequently of the Federal Mining and Smelting Company, whose rights belonged to the ASARCo.

[8] Later, the family lived in New York, and additionally, like every member of the Seattle Country Club, had a residence on Bainbridge Island.