Francis Asbury Hammond (1822-1900) was born on 1 November 1822, in Patchogue, Suffolk County (Long Island), New York, to Samuel S. Hammond and Charity Edwards. He had very little formal education. His father was a boot and shoe maker. Francis learned enough from his father to carry on this trade later in life. When Francis was only fourteen he went to sea as a cook and cabin boy at the rate of $4.00 per month. He continued at sea until an injury in 1844 almost cost him his life. This injury occurred in the Sandwich Islands (present day Hawaii). After recovering he sailed to San Francisco where he hoped to take a wife. While in San Francisco he was baptized a Mormon. He later set out for the Salt Lake Valley. He arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1848. In November 1848 he married Mary Jane Dilworth the marriage was presided over by President Heber C. Kimball. In 1851, Francis was called to serve a mission in the Sandwich Islands, his wife and six-month-old child accompanied him. Francis served two missions to the Sandwich Islands for the Mormon Church. In later years, Francis served as president of the San Juan Stake of the LDS Church. He had three wives, was the father of fifteen children, and grandfather to thirty-two grandchildren. He died in 1900 as the result of an accident.

See Andrew Jenson. L.D.S Biographical Encyclopedia (1901), 1:351-53.