Born in 1817 in St-Omer, France, to a British army officer and his wife, Henry Stisted studied at Sandhurst and entered the British army in 1835. He served in Afghanistan and Persia and was in the advance guard of Havelock's force at the relief of Lucknow in 1857. He was appointed Major General in 1864 and divisional commander of British forces in Canada in 1866. General Sisted became the first Lieutenant Governor of Ontario in 1867 and served until 1868. He was instumental in opening up the northen part of the province for development. He was knighted in 1871 and married Maria Burton, daughter of explorer Sir Richard Burton, in 1875. He died in Upper Norwood, Surrey, in 1875.