John Deffett Francis

Throughout his adult life, Francis was a devoted collector of rare books, prints and curiosities. This was also a family trait since his brother, George Grant Francis, was a successful antiquarian. In 1876, Francis made a generous bequest of his personal library, including art books, to the Swansea Public Library, while he was still alive. The Preface to a catalogue of the collection printed in 1887 introduces the donation in the following manner: 'In the year 1876, Mr. John Deffett Francis, desirous of promoting to the utmost of his power the study of Literature and Art in his native Town, determined to make a gift of his Library, consisting chiefly of Books on Art and subjects connected therewith, to his fellow townsmen.'^[8] In a subsequent catalogue statement dated 25 May 1887, the author of the Preface notes that:

The Library thus presented to the Burgesses consisted of between 600 and 700 volumes; but Mr. Francis was not satisfied to stop here. His object was the education of his fellow burgesses in Literature and Art, and in furtherance of that object he shortly afterwards gave a considerable collection of Drawings and Engravings, many of them of great rarity and beauty; and he determined to make the Library and collection of Pictures mutually illustrative.^[9]

Overall, the collection of artefacts that Francis collected and donated to Swansea Public Library between 1876 and his death in 1901 totalled 7,000 books and 2,000 pictures and engravings. Subsequently, Francis became a committee member of Swansea Library and curator of the fine arts. This substantial holding also led to the establishment of a 'D.F.' Art Gallery and Library, opened by William Gladstone in 1887.^[3] As a whole the library contains books on a huge variety of science and arts subjects including anatomy, free masonry, antique art and botany. It acts as a monument to the eclecticism of his tastes as well as his broad learning and erudition.

The John Deffett Francis collection was later transferred to the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery.^[10] Francis also bequeathed a collection of 20,000 prints, drawings and books to the British Museum.^[3]

Surprisingly little is known about Francis' personal life. However, some insights are suggested by a satirical poem written by Wyndham Lawrence in 1876, which cites Francis and some of his contemporaries then living in Swansea.^[11] The satirical poem entitled 'Will of J.D. Francis Esq.' was printed in an edition of 110 copies and is dated 30 June 1876. As this is the same year that Francis made his generous donation of books to the Swansea Library, this may well be a playful response to this philanthropic incident, a reading that is supported by the poem itself, as the first-person narrator makes a series of joking 'bequests':

'I J. Deffett Francis, of Swansea Town,

Archaeologist, A-thiest and Artist,

Astronomer, Actor of some renown,

Curiosity, Critic and Chartist,

In the Name of Goodness Gracious! hereby

Make this my last Will and Testament.'^[12]

As a whole the poem supports a view of Francis as a dilettante with eclectic tastes. The poem also suggests that Francis suffered from poor health, was fond of women, ostentatious clothes, smoking pipes and often out of pocket. There is little information available about the author, Wyndham Lawrence, save what is included in the poem itself: 'he's a good, sanctimonious youth,/ And gazes on Gin with abhorrence'.^[13]

Francis died on 21 February 1901 at Bellevue Street, Swansea.