Francis de Winton

Major-General Sir Francis Walter de Winton (21 June 1835 – 16 December 1901) was a British Army officer, colonial administrator and courtier in the Household of the Duke of York. He notably served as Administrator-General of the Congo Free State under King Leopold II of Belgium. His father had changed his surname from Wilkins to De Winton by royal licence in 1839.

Early career De Winton was educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich and commissioned into the Royal Artillery on 11 April 1854. He first saw active service in the Crimean War and was present at the Siege of Sevastopol. For his service he received the Légion d'Honneur (5th class). He was promoted to captain in 1861 and served in British North America and Gibraltar, before working as military attache in Constantinople from 1877 to 1878.

From 1878 to 1883 he was secretary to the Marquess of Lorne, who was Governor General of Canada. De Winton was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in 1880 and became brevet-colonel in 1884.