Francis J. Fluno (1845-1922) was born in Otsego County, New York, and died in San Francisco, California. In 1881 he married Ella V. Fluno (b. Jennings). Fluno was a homeopathic physician who became interested in Christian Science in 1885. The couple took Mary Baker Eddy's Primary class in November 1885. After finishing the class, the couple moved to Lexington, Kentucky, in December 1885 to begin their work, joining the Christian Scientist Association that same month. In Lexington they ordered and distributed copies of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, healed, and held church services. After Fluno took Eddy's Normal class in February 1887, he and fellow Christian Scientist Malinda J. Lancaster established the Kentucky Academy of Christian Science. He was also involved with the Lexington branch of the Student's Christian Scientist Association, serving as president in 1888. By 1890, the Flunos were in Oakland, California, where they founded the Oakland Christian Science Institute and helped organize First Church of Christ, Scientist, Oakland. They taught and practiced in Oakland for many years, and Fluno served as First Reader of the Oakland Church. The couple joined The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, in March 1894. In 1898, Francis was appointed to the Christian Science Board of Lectureship, serving until 1918. He gave the first lecture in Hawaii and, in 1909, the first lecture in Africa. In 1907, he authored Christian Science: A Reasonable and Rational View of All Things. In 1918 he was appointed President of The Mother Church.

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