Francis Norman was the younger brother of Sir Henry Wylie Norman, and was born on 25 April 1830 in London. He entered Addiscombe, and obtained his commission in the Bengal Army on 8 December 1848. After his regiment participated in the Mutiny of 1857, he was attached to the 14th (Ferozepore Sikh) Regiment, and he remained at Ferozepore during subsequent operations. He received the Indian Mutiny Medal for his service during the rebellion.