FRANCIS, a learned English physician in the 17th century, was educated at Cambridge, and was made regius professor of that university. In 1634 he was admitted a fellow of the College of Physicians in London. During the civil wars, he practised physic at Colchester, and afterwards settled in London. He greatly improved physic by his anatomical dissections and observations, and made several new discoveries of singular use towards establishing a rational practice. He wrote, 1. De rachitiide, &c. 2. De lymphoeductis nuper repertis: with the Anatomica prolegomena, et Anatomia hepatis. 3. De nature substantiae energetica: seu de via vitae nature, ejusque tribus primis facultatibus, &c. quarto. 4. Traeßatus de ventriculo et intestinis, &c. The world is obliged to him for the capsula communis, or vagina portae.