Due to his father's job as a stevedore, Frank Mark Dunn (1871-1911)was exposed early on to the maritime industry. Frank Mark was the third child of Edward and Mary Dunn.

He became an apprentice of Bar Pilot's Association of Pensacola after he completed his education. Frank Mark captained many ships including the New York Herald dispatch boat, Sommers N. Smith which traveled to Havana and Matanzas, Cuba during the Spanish-American War. During the war, Frank Mark also served as Lieutenant Commanding Officer of the Pensacola Fourth Division, First Battalion of the Florida Naval Militia.

Frank Mark married Laura Helen Marsh in November of 1902. Over two hundred residents of Pensacola attended the wedding.

Frank Mark and Laura had five children: Charles Mather, Mary Louise, Mary Frances, Edward, and Frank Mark II.

Frank Mark died of an intestinal obstruction in January of 1911, just three weeks after the birth of Frank Mark II. He was buried next to his parents in the Dunn family mausoleum.