11 Facts About Francis Townsend

Francis Everett Townsend was an American physician and political activist in California.

Francis Townsend was born just outside Fairbury, Illinois, where he is memorialized by a post office named in his honor.

Francis Everett Townsend was born the second of six children on January 13,1867, in Fairbury, Illinois.

In 1898, Francis Townsend borrowed $1,000 from his father and moved to Southern California to develop a hay farming business.

The business was not successful, and Francis Townsend enrolled in Omaha Medical College when he was 31.

In 1930, at the start of the Great Depression, Francis Townsend became a Long Beach city public health officer at age 63, but lost his job three years later.

Francis Townsend is buried in Woodlawn Memorial Park in Compton, California.

The Francis Townsend Plan proposed that every person over 60 be paid $200 per month.

In September 1933, Francis Townsend wrote a letter to the editor of the local newspaper, and launched his career as an old-age activist.

One of the findings was that the Francis Townsend organization had raised over a million dollars and that Francis Townsend had received a salary of $12,000 for the previous 12 months.

Francis Townsend was prosecuted for contempt of Congress and sentenced to 30 days in prison.