Francis Bowes Sayre, Jr.

Francis Bowes Sayre Jr. was born on January 17, 1915, at the White House, Washington, D.C. He was the first-born grandchild of Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States. His father was Francis Bowes Sayre Sr., a Harvard law graduate who served as an assistant secretary of state, and his mother was Jessie Woodrow Wilson Sayre, the daughter of President Wilson. His paternal grandfather, Robert H. Sayre, was the vice president and chief engineer of the Lehigh Valley Railroad.

Sayre Jr. completed his early education at Belmont Hill School. He attended Williams College for his undergraduate studies and earned a divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary. During World War II, he served as a chaplain in the United States Navy. Following his military service, he held a parish in Cleveland, Ohio.

In 1946, Sayre married Harriet Taft Hart, the daughter of Admiral Thomas C. Hart. Harriet Hart died in 2003. The couple had four children.

Sayre Jr. was appointed Dean of the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., a position he held for 27 years until his retirement in 1978. During his tenure, he oversaw significant projects, including the purchase and construction of a 53-bell carillon for the cathedral. In recognition of his efforts, he was awarded permanent, honorary membership in The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America in 1964.

He was known for his vocal opposition to various social and political issues. In 1954, he criticized Senator Joseph McCarthy, calling him a "pretended patriot" and expressing concern over society’s tolerance of McCarthy's actions. In March 1965, Sayre participated alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, opposing segregation and advocating for civil rights.

Sayre Jr. was also an outspoken critic of poverty, McCarthyism, and the Vietnam War, frequently using his platform to address social issues.

He retired from his role as Dean in 1978. Francis Bowes Sayre Jr. died on October 3, 2008, at the age of 93, at his home on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, due to complications related to diabetes. His remains were interred later that month at the Washington National Cathedral. He was survived by two daughters, two sons, and eight grandchildren.