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{{Short description|British Army officer, colonial administrator and courtier}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
|honorific_prefix = [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]]
|honorific_prefix = [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]]
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|image = File:VingtAnnees 183.jpg
|image = File:VingtAnnees 183.jpg
|caption = Sir Francis de Winton in 1885
|caption = Sir Francis de Winton in 1885
|birth_date = {{birth date|1835|06|21|df=yes}}
|birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1835|06|21}}
|birth_place = [[Pitsford]], [[Northamptonshire]]
|birth_place = [[Pitsford]], Northamptonshire, United Kingdom
|death_date = {{death date and age|1901|12|16|1835|06|21|df=yes}}
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1901|12|16|1835|06|21}}
|death_place = Llanstephan, [[Llyswen]]
|death_place = Llanstephan, [[Llyswen]], United Kingdom
|rank = [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]]
|rank = [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]]
|serviceyears = 1854-1890
|serviceyears = 1854–1890
|allegiance = {{UK}}
|allegiance = {{flag|British Empire}}<br/>{{flag|Congo Free State}}
|branch = [[Image:Flag of the British Army.svg|23px]] [[British Army]]
|branch = [[British Army]]
|unit = [[Royal Artillery]]
|unit = [[Royal Artillery]]
|commands =
|commands =
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}}
}}


[[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] '''Sir Francis Walter de Winton''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|GCMG|CB|FRGS}} (21 June 1835 - 16 December 1901) was a [[British Army]] officer, colonial administrator and [[courtier]] in the [[Household of King George V and Queen Mary|Household of the Duke of York]].
[[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] '''Sir Francis Walter de Winton''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|GCMG|CB|FRGS}} (21 June 1835 – 16 December 1901) was a [[British Army]] officer, colonial administrator and [[courtier]] in the [[Household of King George V and Queen Mary|Household of the Duke of York]]. He notably served as Administrator-General of the [[Congo Free State]] under King [[Leopold II of Belgium]].<ref name=":0" />


==Early life==
==Early life==
De Winton was born at [[Pitsford]], [[Northamptonshire]] in 1835, the second son of Walter de Winton of Maesllwch Castle and Julia Cecilia, second daughter of Richard John Collinson.<ref name=DNB>{{cite DNB|wstitle=De Winton, Francis Walter|last=Leslie|first=John Henry|authorlink=|volume=12|supplement=1912}}</ref> His father had changed his surname from Wilkins to De Winton by royal licence in 1839.
De Winton was born at [[Pitsford]], Northamptonshire in 1835, the second son of Walter de Winton of Maesllwch Castle and Julia Cecilia, second daughter of Richard John Collinson.<ref name=DNB>{{cite DNB|wstitle=De Winton, Francis Walter|last=Leslie|first=John Henry|volume=12|supplement=2}}</ref> His father had changed his surname from Wilkins to De Winton by royal licence in 1839.


==Career==
==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 (1854–55)]]. 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 [[John Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll|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.<ref name=DNB/> He was made a [[Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George]] in 1882 and was made a knight in the same order in February 1884.
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 (1854–55)|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.


He subsequently held administrative appointments in several African colonies, most notably working as Administrator-general of the [[Congo Free State]]. As a result, he was made a Commander of the [[Order of Leopold (Belgium)|Order of Leopold]] by the Belgian government. In 1887 he commanded the [[Yoni Expedition]] against the Yoni people of West Africa.<ref name=DNB/> He was made a [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]] upon the successful repression of the rebellion and was made Assistant Quartermaster-General at Army Headquarters. In 1889 De Winton was sent by the British government as a commissioner to [[Swaziland]]. In May 1890 de Winton, who had retired from the army on 21 June of that year with the honorary rank of major-general, was appointed governor of the [[Imperial British East Africa Company]]'s possessions, but he resigned in June 1891. In January 1892 de Winton became Controller and Treasurer in the household of [[Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale]]. Following the duke's premature death, de Winton served in the household of the [[George V|Duke and Duchess of York]]. He was invested as a Knight Grand Cross in 1893.<ref name=DNB/>
From 1878 to 1883 he was secretary to the [[John Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll|Marquess of Lorne]], who was [[Governor General of Canada]]. De Winton was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in 1880 and became brevet-colonel in 1884.<ref name="DNB" /> He was made a [[Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George]] in 1882 and was made a knight in the same order in February 1884.
== Career in Africa and later life ==
He subsequently held administrative appointments in several African colonies, most notably working as Administrator-general of the [[Congo Free State]]. As a result, he was made a Commander of the [[Order of Leopold (Belgium)|Order of Leopold]] by the Belgian government. In 1887 he commanded the [[Yoni Expedition]] against the [[Yoni Chiefdom|Yoni people]] of West Africa.<ref name="DNB" />
He was made a [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]] upon the successful repression of the rebellion and was made Assistant Quartermaster-General at Army Headquarters. In 1889 De Winton was sent by the British government as a commissioner to [[Swaziland]]. In May 1890 de Winton, who had retired from the army on 21 June of that year with the honorary rank of major-general, was appointed governor of the [[Imperial British East Africa Company]]'s possessions, but he resigned in June 1891.
In January 1892, de Winton became Controller and Treasurer in the household of [[Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale]]. Following the duke's premature death, de Winton served in the household of the [[George V|Duke and Duchess of York]]. He was invested as a Knight Grand Cross in 1893.<ref name="DNB" />


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
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He married in 1864 Evelyn, daughter of Christopher Rawson of Lennoxville, Canada, and had issue two sons and two daughters. One son predeceased him in 1892. De Winton died at Llanstephan, [[Llyswen]] in 1901 and was buried at [[Glasbury]].<ref name=DNB/>
He married in 1864 Evelyn, daughter of Christopher Rawson of Lennoxville, Canada, and had issue two sons and two daughters. One son predeceased him in 1892. De Winton died at Llanstephan, [[Llyswen]] in 1901 and was buried at [[Glasbury]].<ref name=DNB/>

He is the namesake of [[De Winton, Alberta]], in Canada.<ref name=":0">{{cite book|title=Place-names of Alberta|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015070267029;view=1up;seq=46|year=1928|publisher=Geographic Board of Canada.|location=Ottawa|page=42}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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==Sources==
==Sources==
*{{cite ODNB|first1=J. H.|last1=Leslie|title=Winton, Sir Francis Walter de (1835–1901)|last2= Roger T. |first2= Stearn|id=32806}}
*{{cite ODNB|first1=J. H.|last1=Leslie|title=Winton, Sir Francis Walter de (1835–1901)|last2= Roger T. |first2= Stearn|id=32806}}
* [https://archives.africamuseum.be/agents/people/45 Archive Francis de Winton], Royal museum of central Africa
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{{Colonial heads of Congo}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:De Winton, Francis Walter}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:De Winton, Francis Walter}}
[[Category:1835 births]]
[[Category:1835 births]]
[[Category:1901 deaths]]
[[Category:1901 deaths]]
[[Category:British Army generals]]
[[Category:British Army major generals]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of the Crimean War]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of the Crimean War]]
[[Category:British colonial governors and administrators]]
[[Category:British colonial governors and administrators in Africa]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:English courtiers]]
[[Category:Court of Queen Victoria]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society]]
[[Category:Governors-General of the Congo Free State]]
[[Category:Governors-General of the Congo Free State]]
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[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George]]
[[Category:Royal Artillery officers]]
[[Category:Royal Artillery officers]]
[[Category:Congo Free State officials]]
[[Category:International Association of the Congo]]

Revision as of 23:39, 11 June 2023

Major-General

Sir Francis de Winton

GCMG CB FRGS
Sir Francis de Winton in 1885
Born(1835-06-21)21 June 1835
Pitsford, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom
Died16 December 1901(1901-12-16) (aged 66)
Llanstephan, Llyswen, United Kingdom
Allegiance British Empire
 Congo Free State
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1854–1890
RankMajor-General
UnitRoyal Artillery
Battles/warsCrimean War
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
Companion of the Order of the Bath

Major-General Sir Francis Walter de Winton GCMG CB FRGS (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.[1]

Early life

De Winton was born at Pitsford, Northamptonshire in 1835, the second son of Walter de Winton of Maesllwch Castle and Julia Cecilia, second daughter of Richard John Collinson.[2] 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.[2] He was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1882 and was made a knight in the same order in February 1884.

Career in Africa and later life

He subsequently held administrative appointments in several African colonies, most notably working as Administrator-general of the Congo Free State. As a result, he was made a Commander of the Order of Leopold by the Belgian government. In 1887 he commanded the Yoni Expedition against the Yoni people of West Africa.[2]

He was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath upon the successful repression of the rebellion and was made Assistant Quartermaster-General at Army Headquarters. In 1889 De Winton was sent by the British government as a commissioner to Swaziland. In May 1890 de Winton, who had retired from the army on 21 June of that year with the honorary rank of major-general, was appointed governor of the Imperial British East Africa Company's possessions, but he resigned in June 1891.

In January 1892, de Winton became Controller and Treasurer in the household of Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale. Following the duke's premature death, de Winton served in the household of the Duke and Duchess of York. He was invested as a Knight Grand Cross in 1893.[2]

Personal life

Whilst in Canada, he was Master of the Hounds of the Montreal Hunt. De Winton was honorary secretary of the Royal Geographical Society between 1888 and 1889 and was made an honorary Legum Doctor by the University of Cambridge.

He married in 1864 Evelyn, daughter of Christopher Rawson of Lennoxville, Canada, and had issue two sons and two daughters. One son predeceased him in 1892. De Winton died at Llanstephan, Llyswen in 1901 and was buried at Glasbury.[2]

He is the namesake of De Winton, Alberta, in Canada.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Place-names of Alberta. Ottawa: Geographic Board of Canada. 1928. p. 42.
  2. ^ a b c d e Leslie, John Henry (1912). "De Winton, Francis Walter" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography (2nd supplement). Vol. 12. London: Smith, Elder & Co.

Sources

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