Mark Gino Francois was born on 14 August 1965 in Islington, London to Anna () and Reginald Francois. His father was an engineer and his mother was an Italian au pair. The family moved to Basildon, Essex in 1971. His secondary education was at the Nicholas Comprehensive School (now part of James Hornsby School). He studied history at the University of Bristol and graduated in 1986. Francois stated that he joined the Conservative Party when he was studying in Bristol. He went on to complete a master's degree in War Studies at King's College London in 1987.