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William Francis and the parliamentary borough of Great Marlow
by Sue Cheetham
Offprint from Records of Bucks, Vol.63 2023
WILLIAM FRANCIS AND THE PARLIAMENTARY BOROUGH OF GREAT MARLOW
William Francis (1774–1843) lived in Great Marlow for 28 years until his death in 1843. He was the headmaster of Borlase Free Grammar School for almost 20 years. He was jailed twice; for one week in 1830 for a breach of the peace, and for three months in 1834 for libelling the wealthy Marlow brewer, Thomas Wethered.
These incarcerations may have dented Francis’s otherwise impressive reputation in society, but there are several more layers to his story.
After Francis's death, the Reading Mercury remembered him in this way.
"Of capricious intellect and various acquirements he contributed to literature and science, and energetically promoted the establishment of public rights and privileges having been mainly instrumental in opening the borough in which he resided."
The article on William Francis can be viewed/downloaded here
