| Claude Earl Francis | |
| Office: | Chairperson of the Barbuda Council |
| Order: | 1st |
| Country: | Antigua and Barbuda |
| Term Start: | 1977 |
| Term End: | 19 February 1978 |
| Office1: | Member of the House of Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda |
| Successor1: | Eric Burton |
| Predecessor1: | McChesney George |
| Constituency1: | Barbuda |
| Spouse: | Thirza Francis |
| Termend1: | 19 February 1978 |
| Termstart1: | 11 February 1971 |
| Death Date: | 19 February 1978 |
| Office2: | Minister of Barbuda Affairs |
| Termend2: | 19 February 1978 |
| Termstart2: | 1976 |
Claude Earl Francis, (d. 19 February 1978), practised law as a solicitor and barrister-at-law in Antigua and other Leeward Islands starting around 1950.[1] Francis had a key role in promoting the building of Barbudan houses outside the boundaries of the Codrington village.[2] The Barbuda Local Government Act is the work of Sir Claude Earl Francis.[3]
Francis was named a Junior Minister after the Progressive Labour Movement gained the Barbuda seat in the 1971 election. Premier George Walter revoked his appointment as a minister in November 1975. It was thought that his votes against the government in the House of Representatives and criticism of the administration's new laws led to his removal from the cabinet. Francis was re-elected as an independent in the 1976 election, and in March of that same year, he was appointed Minister of Barbuda Affairs to the Vere Bird Cabinet.[4]
In February 1978, Claude-Earl Francis passed away unexpectedly. In September 1978, an independent candidate named Eric Burton prevailed in the Barbuda by-election.
Source:
| Year | District | Party | Votes | % | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Barbuda | Independent | 145 | 31.45% | 2nd term | |
| 1971 | Barbuda | Progressive Labour Movement | 211 | 50.00% | 1st term |