James B. Francis - Later Years

Later Years

Francis stayed active on all levels of involvement in the city of Lowell, and even served as an Alderman from 1862 to 1864.

In 1865, James researched and publish his findings on cast iron, and their use as structural columns in; "The Strength of Cast-Iron Columns."

Francis also originated scientific methods of testing hydraulic machinery, and was a founding member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and its president in 1880.

In 1883, James completed his calculation standards for water flow rates, now known as the Francis equation or Francis Formula, usually used in Fluid Dynamics in conjunction with calculating weirs. Q=3.33h1 3/2 (L-0.2h1)

Q= discharge in ft3/s neglecting velocity of approach

L =the length of weir in feet

h1= head on the weir in feet

He remained at the Locks and Canal Company for his entire career, until retirement in 1884 at the age of 69, and remained on as a consultant right up until his death. His son James took over as Chief Engineer. The rest of his life he spent with his wife Sarah, and their six children in their home on Worthen Street, which was Whistlers old home and now the Whistler House Museum of Art. Francis died at the on September 18, 1892, age of 77, and is buried at Lowell Cemetery under a massive pillar of cut granite stones, symbolizing the stones used to make the canals.