Francis Ventris

Major-General Francis Ventris CB (1857–1929) was Commander of British Forces in China.

Military career
The son of Edward Favell Ventris, who was Vicar of West Mersea in Essex before becoming Rector of Church Aston, Newport, Shropshire, by his wife Rose (née Fisher), he was educated at Adams' Grammar School in Newport. Ventris was commissioned into the 44th Regiment of Foot in 1875. He became an Adjutant of that Regiment in 1880. In 1897, having served as an Assistant Adjutant-General in India, he was given command of a district in that country. In 1903 he became a Brigadier commanding troops in North China.

He retired in 1909 but was then recalled at the start of World War I to become General Officer Commanding 25th Division in September 1914.

In 1915 he was appointed Commander of British Forces in China, a post he relinquished in 1921.

He married Helen Maud Davies in 1883, and was father to two sons and two daughters. His son Edward (1885-1938) was the father of Michael Ventris, who deciphered Linear B.