Francis Lewis Playground

42 Av At Francis Lewis Bl

Queens

This text is part of Parks’ Historical Signs Project and can be found posted within the park.

This park honors Francis Lewis (1713-1802), an early American merchant, patriot, and co-signer of the Declaration of Independence. Born in Llandaff, Wales, Lewis became an orphan at a young age. He completed a merchant apprenticeship in London, then traveled to America in 1738. The entrepreneur established a successful trading company in both New York City and Philadelphia, and grew rich from supplying goods to British troops during the French and Indian War (1755-1763). In 1745, Lewis married Elizabeth Annesley, the sister of a business partner. Having accumulated great wealth, Lewis retired from trade in 1765 and moved to Whitestone, New York.