Francis Lister Hawks was an American writer, historian, educator and priest of the Episcopal Church. After practicing law with some distinction, Hawks became an Episcopal priest in 1827 and proved a brilliant and impressive preacher, holding livings in New Haven, Philadelphia, New York City and New Orleans, and declining several bishoprics. However, scandals during the 1830s and 40s led him to posts on the American frontier and rejection of his selection as bishop of Mississippi, Hawks was the first president of the University of Louisiana Hawks then moved to Baltimore, Maryland, and eventually returned to New York City.