Francis Gillette (December 14, 1807 – September 30, 1879) was a politician from Connecticut, US. He was the father of actor and playwright William Gillette and politician and editor Edward H. Gillette.
Gillette was born in Old Windsor, Connecticut (today part of the town of Bloomfield), Gillette moved with his parents, Rev. Ashbel and Achsah Francis, to Ashfield, Massachusetts as a child. He graduated from Yale College in 1829 and commenced the study of law, but his health becoming impaired, he instead engaged in agricultural pursuits in Bloomfield.
He was elected a Free Soiler to the United States Senate in 1854 to fill a vacancy and served until the end of the term in 1855, not being a candidate for reelection. Afterwards, Gillette became a lecturer on agriculture and temperance and was a trustee of the Connecticut State Normal School, also serving as its president for many years.
He aided in the formation of the Republican Party in Connecticut and for several years was a silent partner in the Evening Press, the organ of the party.
