Francis Wallace was born in Ayrshire on 24 Oct 1838 and educated at Trinity College Cambridge. His father was General Sir Alexander Agnew Dunlop-Wallace KCB 7th Bt. Francis purchased his commission as a cornet in the Scots Greys on 28 April 1863. Lieutenant by purchase 30 Mar 1866, captain by purchase 10 May 1871, major 21 June 1880, and lieutenant-colonel on 1 July 1881. He commanded the Scots Greys for one year.
