Francis, Baron Dhanis

Francis, Baron Dhanis
Francis Dhanis
Born	11 March 1861 London, United Kingdom
Died	13 November 1909 Brussels, Belgium
Nationality	Belgian
Other names	Francis Dhanis
Occupation	military officer
Known for	1892-1894 war in the Eastern Congo

Francis Dhanis (1861–1909) was a Belgian colonial civil servant and soldier noted for his service for the Congo Free State during the Congo Arab War and Batetela Rebellion.

Dhanis was born in London in 1861. His father was a Belgian merchant and his mother was an Irish woman named Maher. He spent the first fourteen years of his life at Greenock, where he received his early education. After completing his education at the Royal Military Academy in Brussels, he entered the Belgian army, joining the Regiment of Grenadiers, in which he eventually rose to the rank of Major.

As soon as he reached the rank of Lieutenant he volunteered for service in the Congo Free State of King Leopold II of Belgium, and in 1887 he went out for a first term. He did so well in founding new stations north of the Congo that, when the government decided to put an end to the Arab domination on the Upper Congo, he was selected to command the chief expedition sent against the slave traders in the war in the Eastern Congo.

The campaign began in April 1892, and it was not brought to a successful conclusion until January 1894. The story of this war was narrated in detail by Dr. Sydney Hinde, who took part in it, in his book The Fall of the Congo Arabs. The principal achievements of the campaign were the capture in succession of the three Arab strongholds at Nyangwe, Kasongo and Kabambari. For his services Dhanis was awarded the rank of baron, and in 1895 was made vice-governor of the Congo Free State.

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