Rev. Carlton Francis was born in Miami, Florida in 1919. He was educated at the Government High School, Nassau. He received further education at St. Andrew's University in Scotland, Edinburgh University and the University of the West Indies.

Mr. Francis had a long career in the field of Education. From 1955 to 1956 he was Head Teacher and Principal of the Southern Senior, Western Senior and Eastern Senior Schools. He also taught at Jordan Memorial, Prince Williams High, The Bahamas Teacher's Training College and Queen's College.

Mr. Francis also served as President of the Bahamas Teacher's Union for five years, and was a founding member of the Trade Union Congress.

In 1965 he became the First Vice Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party. In 1967 Mr. Francis was elected to Parliament as a member of the PLP and was made Minister of Finance. From 1970 to 1972 he served as Minister of Education. from 1972 - 1973 he was appointed Minister of Development. Mr. Francis resigned from the PLP cabinet in 1973 as a matter of conscience over the issue of gambling. Mr. Francis was Chairman of the Bahamas Development Association from 1973 to 1978. In that year he was ordained a Reverend in the Baptist Church, and then began serving as pastor of the Kemp Road Union Baptist Church. He help this position until his resignation in 1983. On December 9, 1985 he succumbed to diabetes at the age of 66. This stalwart Bahamian was recognized when a new primary school was named in his honour.