Francis L. (Francis Lister) Hawks

Born in New Bern, North Carolina, on June 10, 1798, Francis Lister Hawks first trained as a lawyer before entering the Episcopal ministry. Over the course of his career he became known as a preacher, teacher, editor, and historian, building a reputation that reached well beyond his home state.

Hawks held important roles in education and church life, including work as a professor and as a leader in Episcopal institutions. He wrote and edited historical and religious works, and his books on the history of the Episcopal Church helped preserve records and stories that might otherwise have been lost.

He died in New York City on September 26, 1866. Today he is remembered as a versatile 19th-century man of letters whose life joined scholarship, ministry, and public service.