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Francis Kelly

1859 – 1937

British Army general

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About Francis Kelly

Lived 1859 – 1937 (aged 77). Francis Kelly was a British engineer and military personnel.

Major-General Francis Henry Kelly (26 July 1859 – 18 March 1937) was Commander of British Troops in South China.

Military career Kelly was commissioned into the Royal Engineers as a lieutenant on 6 April 1879. He took part in the Burma expedition in 1885, was promoted to captain on 1 April 1889, and then went to the North West Frontier in India in 1897 where he participated in the Tirah Campaign, during which he was promoted to major on 1 October 1897.

He was appointed temporary assistant adjutant-general in Quetta District on 23 June 1900 (while the actual A.A.G. served in the Boxer Rebellion in China), serving as such for several years. He was promoted to the substantive rank of colonel on 9 September 1902. He was further appointed Commander of the Karachi Brigade in 1905 and Commander of the Ahmednagar Brigade in 1907. and General Officer Commanding 69th (2nd East Anglian) Division in November 1915 during the First World War before retiring in 1918.

After the War he became a Regional Director at the Ministry of Pensions.

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Important facts

Birth century
Awards
Companion of the Order of the Bath; Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Also known as
Major-General Francis Kelly

People in Francis Kelly's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Francis Kelly's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Francis Kelly?

British Army general

When was Francis Kelly born?

Francis Kelly was born on 26 July 1859 in Clifton.

When did Francis Kelly die?

Francis Kelly died on 18 March 1937 in Camberley.

What was Francis Kelly's occupation?

Francis Kelly was an engineer and military personnel.

What nationality was Francis Kelly?

Francis Kelly was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Francis Kelly

· Wikidata: Q5481606

· DBpedia: Francis Kelly (British Army officer)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Francis Kelly. https://biography.guide/francis-kelly-engineer/

MLA: "Francis Kelly." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/francis-kelly-engineer/.

Chicago: "Francis Kelly." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/francis-kelly-engineer/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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