Rubuta ci gaba don wannan sakin layi - Kamar kakanninsa, matashi Curt von François ya shiga kungiyar Cadet ta Prussian. Ya yi aiki a matsayin soja a cikin Yaƙin Franco-Prussian na 1870-71, inda aka kashe mahaifinsa a cikin yaƙi yayin Yaƙin Spicheren
a ranar 6 ga Agusta 1870, kuma an ba shi lambar yabo ta Iron Cross. A shekara ta 1883 ya yi aiki a matsayin masanin ilimin ƙasa a kan wani bincike na bincike tare da Kogin Kasai a yankin Congo karkashin jagorancin Hermann Wissmann kuma bayan shekaru biyu ya shiga wani bincike a cikin Congo wanda George Grenfell ya jagoranci. Da ya dawo Jamus, ya zama memba na Janar Janar na Jamus, kuma an daukaka shi zuwa matsayin "Hauptmann" (Kapitaina). A cikin 1887 an sanya shi a matsayin jami'in bincike a Afirka ta Yammacin Jamus. A madadin Ofishin Harkokin Waje, ya bincika Togoland da hanyar kasuwanci zuwa Salaga har zuwa yankin Mossi a arewa.