[1] Francis was born in London, and emigrated to Van Diemen's Land (later Tasmania) in 1847, where he became a businessman.

He was a director of the Bank of New South Wales and president of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce.

He was Vice-President of the Board of Land and Works and Commissioner of Public Works 1859–60, Commissioner of Trade and Customs 1863–68 in the second government of James McCulloch and Treasurer in the third McCulloch government 1870–71.

When the liberal government of Charles Gavan Duffy was defeated in June 1872, Francis became Premier and Chief Secretary.

[1] Francis's government, like most of its predecessors, was dominated by the education and land issues, and by conflict between the Assembly and the Legislative Council.