Major General Major Francis Downes, CMG (10 February 1834 – 15 October 1923) was a British army officer, commandant of colonial forces in South Australia.Downes was the son of William Downes, of Dedham, Essex, England, and was educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; entered the Royal Artillery in 1852, was promoted lieutenant-colonel in 1877, colonel in 1882, and major-general in 1884, the year of his retirement.