T5617-I Gave Everything—And I’d Do It Again - Francis Lewis

“I Gave Everything—And I’d Do It Again.”
At 63 years old, Francis Lewis stood among the oldest signers of the Declaration of Independence—and perhaps among the most personally afflicted by the price of liberty. Born in Wales and educated in England, Lewis saw promise in a young America and built a prosperous life as a merchant in New York. When the call for independence came, he gave his entire fortune to the war effort—securing weapons, clothing, and outfitting ships for the Continental cause. For this, he paid dearly. The British torched his home on Long Island, destroying a lifetime’s possessions. Far worse, they captured and imprisoned his beloved wife Elizabeth. She was never the same. She died shortly after her release—in Lewis’s arms. Still, he never regretted signing. “Freedom demands much,” he said, “but what it gives in return is everything.” His story reminds us: some gave more than treasure. Some gave what cannot be replaced.

Categories: American History