OBITUARY
SIR FRANCIS DE WINTON
We regret to announce the death, at Llanstephen, Llyswen, South Wales, of Major-General Sir Francis Walter de Winton, G.C.M.G., C.B., LL.D., who recently retired from the post of Controller of the Household of the Prince and Princess of Wales (when Duke and Duchess of York).
Sir Francis went to South Wales about six weeks ago with the intention of enjoying his retirement from active work.
He was in good health as recently as Friday morning, but was seized with heart trouble the same day and died on Monday morning.
The Prince and Princes of Wales have sent to Lady de Winton a gracious message of sympathy and condolence.
Sir Francis de Winton was born at Pittsford, Northamptonshire, in 1835, and was the second son of Mr. Walter de Winton, of Maesllwch Castle, Radnorshire.
He was educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and in 1854 he entered the Royal Artillery, becoming captain in 1860, major in 1872, lieutenant-colonel in 1880, colonel in 1884, and hon. major-general (retired) in 1890.
He took part in the Crimean campaign from January, 1855, including the siege and fall of Savastopol, service in the trenches with the siege train,, and the bombardments of April 9 and June 17.
He received the medal with clasp and the Turkish medal,, and was made a Knight of the Legion of Honour.
Subsequently he acted as A.D.C. to Sir W. F. Williams when commanding the Forces in British North America, and was again on the Staff of the same officer when Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia from 1864-67, and when Governor of Gibraltar in 1870-72.
From 1877 to 1878 he was Military Attache at Constantinople, and from 1878 to 1880, and again from 1880 to 1883 he was secretary to the Marquis of Lorne when Governor-General of Canada.
For a brief period he had command of the depot at Newcastle-on-Tyne, being appointed Administor-General for the King of the Belgians of the Congo in the latter year, just before it was definitely raised to the rank of a State.
In recognition of his services in this office, which he held until 1880 only,, he was created a Commander of the Order of Leopold.
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Subsequently Sir Francis commanded the expedition sent against the Yonnies on the West Coast of Africa in 1887-88, and in respect of his work on this occasion he was made a C.B. and received the medal with clasp.
After this came his selection as secretary to the Emin Pasha relief expedition in 1888, while on his return home he was appointed Assistant Quartermaster-General at headquarters.
The end of 1889, however, found him once more in Africa.
Repeated requests had for some years previously been made by Umbandine, King of Swaziland, that his country should be taken under the protection of her Majesty's Government, owing to the aggressive attitude of the Boers, and their steady influx into his territories, but her Majesty's Government had declined to interfere.
Left to themselves, the Boers gained virtual possession of the pastoral resources of Swaziland, and then her Majesty's Government appointed Sir Francis de Winton as a Commissioner too proceed to Swaziland and hold an inquiry into its affairs in conjunction with a Commissioner to be chosen by the South African Republic.
Sir Francis reached Pretoria in November, 1889, had several interviews with Mr. Kruger, and left for Swaziland, accompanied by Generals Joubert and Smit.
The Joint Commissioners held a meeting of the native chiefs and headsmen, and among other things, promised them that the independence of the Swazis should be maintained by both Governments; but, according to the report which the British Commissioner subsequently made respecting his mission, the Swazis had already parted, "not only with all their actual territory, but with rights which should only belong to the Government of a country, to a lot of adventurers whose sole object was to make money by them."
In 1890-91 Sir Francis was a Governor of the African possessions of the Imperial East African Association, and in January, 1892, he was appointed controller and treasurer of the household of the late Duke of Clarence, and after the death of the Duke of Clarence he continued to act in the same capacity in the household of the Duke of York.
Sir Francis married, in 1864, Evelyn, daughter of Mr. Christopher Ramson, of Lennoxville, Canada.
He was an hon. LL.D. of Cambridge, and an hon. D.C.I. of Durham.
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