Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire
Encyclopedia
Victor Christian William Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire (31 May 1868 6 May 1938), known as Victor Cavendish until 1908, was a British politician who served as Governor General of Canada
, the 11th since Canadian Confederation
.
Cavendish was born the eldest son of a noble
family in London
, United Kingdom
, and educated at Eton College
before moving on to the University of Cambridge
. In 1891, he entered into politics, winning unopposed the riding his father had held until he died that year, and held that seat in the British House of Commons until he inherited his uncle's dukedom in 1908. Thereafter, he took his place in the House of Lords
, while, for a period at the same time, acting as mayor of Eastbourne
and Chesterfield
, as well as holding various cabinet posts both prior to and after his rise to the peerage
. He was, in 1916, appointed as governor general by King George V
, on the recommendation of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
H. H. Asquith
, to replace Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
, as viceroy
, and occupied that post until succeeded by the Lord Byng of Vimy
in 1921. The designation was initially controversial, though by the time of his departure for the UK, Cavendish had earned praise for the way in which he carried out his official duties.
Following his tenure as the Canadian viceroy, Cavendish returned to political and diplomatic life, serving as Secretary of State for the Colonies
between 1922 and 1924, before retiring to his estate in Derbyshire
, where he died on 6 May 1938.
area of London
, England
, as the eldest son of Lord Edward Cavendish
, himself the third son of the seventh Duke of Devonshire
, and Emma Lascelles, both the daughter of William Lascelles and cousin to Lord Edward Cavendish. As such, Cavendish's was elder brother to Lord Richard Cavendish and his uncles were Spencer Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington
(eventually the eighth Duke of Devonshire) and Lord Frederick Cavendish
.
Cavendish was educated at Eton College
before moving on to Trinity College
at the University of Cambridge
, during which time his father sat as the Member of Parliament
for West Derbyshire
. In May 1891, shortly after Cavendish graduated from Cambridge, his father died and Cavendish thus entered into the race for the vacated parliamentary seat and won, becoming the youngest member of the British House of Commons at the time. He married on 30 July of the following year Lady Evelyn FitzMaurice
, the eldest daughter of the Marquess of Lansdowne
, who until four years earlier had served as the fifth Governor General of Canada. The couple thereafter had seven children: Edward, Marquess of Hartington
(born 1895), Lady Maud Louisa Emma (born 1896), Lady Blanche Katharine (born 1898), Lady Dorothy
(born 1900), Lady Rachel (born 1902), Lord Charles Arthur Francis
(born 1905), and Lady Anne (born 1909). Through his children's eventual marriages, Cavendish became the father-in-law of Henry Philip Hunloke
, James Stuart
, Harold Macmillan
, and Adele Astaire
.
For 17 years Cavendish held his parliamentary post, during which time, between 1900 and 1903, he acted as Treasurer of the Household
, from 1903 to 1905 as Financial Secretary to the Treasury
, and on 11 December 1905 was sworn into the King's Privy Council. It was only when he succeeded to the Dukedom of Devonshire on 24 March 1908 that Cavendish quit his commons seat and took his place in the House of Lords
, the same year in which Cavendish was appointed as Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire
. The next year he was made Chancellor of the University of Leeds
and then was elected to two mayoral offices, first to that of Eastbourne
between 1909 and 1910, and then Chesterfield
from 1911 to 1912. With the outbreak of the First World War
, however, Cavendish ceased activities related to all but his honorific appointments and, between 1915 and 1916, sat as the Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty in the Cabinet
of H. H. Asquith
.
and signet, approved the recommendation of his British Prime Minister, H.H. Asquith, to appoint Cavendish as his representative. The appointment caused political problems as Canadian Prime Minister
Robert Borden
had not been consulted on the matter, contrary to practice well established by that time. Borden thus felt insulted, which led to considerable difficulties at the beginning of Cavendish's tenure, officially beginning after he was on 11 November 1916 sworn in during a ceremony held in Halifax
.
In that era, there was social unrest in the country. Not only was the women's suffrage
movement gaining momentum in Canada and calls were coming out of the prairies for socialist
changes to the governmental system, but continued to rage around the world. Canada was providing troops and supplies, and Cavendish, shortly after his installation, and on the advice of Borden, introduced conscription
, a decision that was particularly divisive between French
and English Canadian
s and sparked the Conscription Crisis of 1917
. In the same year, the Governor General also travelled to Nova Scotia
to survey the damage caused by the Halifax Explosion
on 6 December; there he met with survivors and addressed the women of the Voluntary Aid Detachment
.
The Canadian victory in 1917 at Vimy Ridge
, however, helped fuel Canadian pride and nationalism at home and the Governor General, while conscious of his role's remaining connection to the British government, used this military win to positively and publicly encourage reconciliation between Canada's two main linguistic groups. At all times, Cavendish was careful to consult with his prime minister and the leaders of His Majesty's Loyal Opposition
in Canada on matters related to conscription and the war effort.
Cavendish took interest in the lives of Canadians, and conducted various tours of the country to meet with them. As a land owner himself, the Governor General was particularly focused on the development of farming in Canada and during his travels, at agricultural
and horticultural
fairs, shows, and sugaring-off parties in the Gatineau
, discussed agricultural issues with farmers and other people in the industry. His speeches often referred to Canada's potential to lead the world in agricultural research and development, and one of his major projects while viceroy was to establish experimental farms, including the Crown's central one in Ottawa
. At the same time, Cavendish acted as a patron of the arts; when not on tour or residing at La Citadelle
the viceregal residence in Quebec City
at which the Duke enjoyed spending time Cavendish was frequently visiting the National Gallery
and hosting theatrical performances at Rideau Hall
. There, on the grounds of the royal residence, during the winters, the Cavendishes also hosted tobogganing and skating
parties, as well as hockey
matches. Officially, Cavendish in 1918 travelled to the United States
to meet informally with President
Woodrow Wilson
and, the following year, hosted Prince Edward, Prince of Wales
, during his first tour of Canada.
By the end of his tenure as governor general, Cavendish had overcome all of the initial suspicions that had surrounded his appointment; both men who served as his Canadian prime minister Borden and Arthur Meighen
came to view him as a personal friend not only of theirs, but also of Canada's. The former said of Cavendish: "No Governor General has come with a more comprehensive grasp of public questions as they touch not only this country and the United Kingdom, but the whole Empire
." The Duke left as a mark of his time in Canada the Devonshire Cup, for the annual golf
competition of the Canadian Seniors Golf Association, and the Duke of Devonshire Trophy, for the Ottawa Horticultural Society
. For Cavendish, Canada left with his family the two aides-de-camp
who married his daughters while the family resided in Ottawa.
before serving from 1922 to 1924 as Secretary of State for the Colonies
(with a seat in the British Cabinet) under Prime Ministers Andrew Bonar Law and Stanley Baldwin
. In 1922, he was also appointed by King George V to the committee that was charged with looking into how honours were to be bestowed in the United Kingdom. He simultaneously continued to run his agricultural land holdings, especially around Chatsworth House
, where he died in May 1938.
Cavendish's style and title as governor general was, in full, and in English
: His Excellency the Most Noble Sir Victor Christian William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire, Marquess of Hartington, Earl of Burlington, Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Justice of the Peace, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of the Militia and Naval and Air Forces of Canada, and in French
: Son Excellence le très Noble Sir Victor Christian William Cavendish, duc de Devonshire, marquess de Hartington, comte de Burlington, chevalier de le nobilissime ordre de la Jarretière, chevalier grand-croix de le très distingué ordre de Saint-Michel et Saint-George, chevalier grand-croix de l'ordre royal de Victoria, Justice de paix, gouverneur générale et commandant en chef de la milice et les forces navales et aérienne du Canada.
In his post-viceregal life, Alexander's style and title was: His Grace The Most Noble Sir Victor Christian William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire, Marquess of Hartington, Earl of Burlington, Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Justice of the Peace.
Cavendish's post-nominal letters
are, in order according to the Oxford University Calendar Notes on Style: KG, PC, GCMG, GCVO, JP, MA Cantab, LLD(hc) Alb
Appointments 11 December 1905 6 May 1938: Member of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council (PC) 19 August 1912 6 May 1938: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
(GCVO) 28 July 1916 6 May 1938: Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George
(GCMG) 11 November 1916 2 August 1921: Chief Scout for Canada 11 November 1916 6 May 1938: Honorary Member of the Royal Military College of Canada Club
n/a 6 May 1938: Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter
(KG)
Medals 1902: King Edward VII Coronation Medal
1911: King George V Coronation Medal
1935: King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
1937: King George VI Coronation Medal
11 November 1916 2 August 1921: Colonel of the Regiment of the Governor General's Foot Guards
11 November 1916 2 August 1921: Colonel of the Regiment of the Canadian Grenadier Guards
, Doctor of Laws (LLD)
Geographic locations: Devonshire Crescent, Imperial
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
, the 11th since Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
.
Cavendish was born the eldest son of a noble
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
family in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
before moving on to the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. In 1891, he entered into politics, winning unopposed the riding his father had held until he died that year, and held that seat in the British House of Commons until he inherited his uncle's dukedom in 1908. Thereafter, he took his place in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, while, for a period at the same time, acting as mayor of Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
and Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
, as well as holding various cabinet posts both prior to and after his rise to the peerage
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
. He was, in 1916, appointed as governor general by King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
, on the recommendation of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
H. H. Asquith
H. H. Asquith
Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, KG, PC, KC served as the Liberal Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1908 to 1916...
, to replace Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn was a member of the shared British and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha royal family who served as the Governor General of Canada, the 10th since Canadian Confederation.Born the seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and...
, as viceroy
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
, and occupied that post until succeeded by the Lord Byng of Vimy
Julian Byng, 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy
Field Marshal Julian Hedworth George Byng, 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy was a British Army officer who served as Governor General of Canada, the 12th since Canadian Confederation....
in 1921. The designation was initially controversial, though by the time of his departure for the UK, Cavendish had earned praise for the way in which he carried out his official duties.
Following his tenure as the Canadian viceroy, Cavendish returned to political and diplomatic life, serving as Secretary of State for the Colonies
Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet minister in charge of managing the United Kingdom's various colonial dependencies....
between 1922 and 1924, before retiring to his estate in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, where he died on 6 May 1938.
Early life, education, and political career
Cavendish was born in the MaryleboneMarylebone
Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
area of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, as the eldest son of Lord Edward Cavendish
Lord Edward Cavendish
Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Edward Cavendish was a 19th century British politician.Born in Marylebone, Cavendish was the third son of William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire, by his wife, Lady Blanche Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire...
, himself the third son of the seventh Duke of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire KG, PC , styled as Lord Cavendish of Keighley between 1831 and 1834 and known as The Earl of Burlington between 1834 and 1858, was a British landowner, benefactor and politician.-Background and education:Cavendish was the son of William Cavendish, eldest...
, and Emma Lascelles, both the daughter of William Lascelles and cousin to Lord Edward Cavendish. As such, Cavendish's was elder brother to Lord Richard Cavendish and his uncles were Spencer Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington
Spencer Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire
Spencer Compton Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire KG, GCVO, PC, PC , styled Lord Cavendish of Keighley between 1834 and 1858 and Marquess of Hartington between 1858 and 1891, was a British statesman...
(eventually the eighth Duke of Devonshire) and Lord Frederick Cavendish
Lord Frederick Cavendish
Lord Frederick Charles Cavendish was an English Liberal politician and protégé of the Prime Minister, William Ewart Gladstone...
.
Cavendish was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
before moving on to Trinity College
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, during which time his father sat as the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for West Derbyshire
West Derbyshire (UK Parliament constituency)
West Derbyshire was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. From 1885 until it was replaced by the Derbyshire Dales constituency in the 2010 General Election, it elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post voting system.It...
. In May 1891, shortly after Cavendish graduated from Cambridge, his father died and Cavendish thus entered into the race for the vacated parliamentary seat and won, becoming the youngest member of the British House of Commons at the time. He married on 30 July of the following year Lady Evelyn FitzMaurice
Evelyn Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
Evelyn Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire was born Lady Evelyn Emily Mary FitzMaurice, the daughter of the 5th Marquess of Lansdowne and his wife, Maud....
, the eldest daughter of the Marquess of Lansdowne
Henry Petty-FitzMaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne
Henry Charles Keith Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne, KG, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, PC was a British politician and Irish peer who served successively as the fifth Governor General of Canada, Viceroy of India, Secretary of State for War, and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs...
, who until four years earlier had served as the fifth Governor General of Canada. The couple thereafter had seven children: Edward, Marquess of Hartington
Edward Cavendish, 10th Duke of Devonshire
Edward William Spencer Cavendish, 10th Duke of Devonshire, KG, MBE, TD , known as Marquess of Hartington , was the head of the Devonshire branch of the Cavendish family...
(born 1895), Lady Maud Louisa Emma (born 1896), Lady Blanche Katharine (born 1898), Lady Dorothy
Lady Dorothy Macmillan
Lady Dorothy Evelyn Macmillan GBE was a daughter of the 9th Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and the wife of the British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan.-Family life:...
(born 1900), Lady Rachel (born 1902), Lord Charles Arthur Francis
Lord Charles Arthur Francis Cavendish
Lord Charles Arthur Francis Cavendish was the second son of Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire and his wife Lady Evelyn Emily Mary Petty-FitzMaurice....
(born 1905), and Lady Anne (born 1909). Through his children's eventual marriages, Cavendish became the father-in-law of Henry Philip Hunloke
Henry Philip Hunloke
Henry Philip Hunloke TD was a British Conservative politician.Hunloke was born in Marylebone, the son of Philip Hunloke. On his mothers side, he was descended from William IV....
, James Stuart
James Stuart, 1st Viscount Stuart of Findhorn
James Gray Stuart, 1st Viscount Stuart of Findhorn CH MVO MC and Bar PC was a Scottish Unionist politician.Born in Edinburgh, Stuart was the son of Morton Gray Stuart, 17th Earl of Moray, and Edith Douglas Palmer....
, Harold Macmillan
Harold Macmillan
Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC was Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 January 1957 to 18 October 1963....
, and Adele Astaire
Adele Astaire
Lady Charles Cavendish , better known as Adele Astaire, was an American dancer and entertainer. She was Fred Astaire's elder sister. Her birthdate was often given as 1897 or 1898, but the 1900 U.S...
.
Treasurer of the Household
The position of Treasurer of the Household is theoretically held by a household official of the British monarch, under control of the Lord Steward's Department, but is, in fact, a political office held by one of the government's Deputy Chief Whips in the House of Commons...
, from 1903 to 1905 as Financial Secretary to the Treasury
Financial Secretary to the Treasury
Financial Secretary to the Treasury is a junior Ministerial post in the British Treasury. It is the 4th most significant Ministerial role within the Treasury after the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and the Paymaster General...
, and on 11 December 1905 was sworn into the King's Privy Council. It was only when he succeeded to the Dukedom of Devonshire on 24 March 1908 that Cavendish quit his commons seat and took his place in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, the same year in which Cavendish was appointed as Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire
Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire. Since 1689, all the Lord Lieutenants have also been Custos Rotulorum of Derbyshire.*Francis Hastings, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon...
. The next year he was made Chancellor of the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
and then was elected to two mayoral offices, first to that of Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
between 1909 and 1910, and then Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
from 1911 to 1912. With the outbreak of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, however, Cavendish ceased activities related to all but his honorific appointments and, between 1915 and 1916, sat as the Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty in the Cabinet
Cabinet of the United Kingdom
The Cabinet of the United Kingdom is the collective decision-making body of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, composed of the Prime Minister and some 22 Cabinet Ministers, the most senior of the government ministers....
of H. H. Asquith
H. H. Asquith
Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, KG, PC, KC served as the Liberal Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1908 to 1916...
.
Governorship general
It was announced on 8 August 1916 that King George V had, by commission under the royal sign-manualRoyal sign-manual
The royal sign manual is the formal name given in the Commonwealth realms to the autograph signature of the sovereign, by the affixing of which the monarch expresses his or her pleasure either by order, commission, or warrant. A sign-manual warrant may be either an executive actfor example, an...
and signet, approved the recommendation of his British Prime Minister, H.H. Asquith, to appoint Cavendish as his representative. The appointment caused political problems as Canadian Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Robert Borden
Robert Borden
Sir Robert Laird Borden, PC, GCMG, KC was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as the eighth Prime Minister of Canada from October 10, 1911 to July 10, 1920, and was the third Nova Scotian to hold this office...
had not been consulted on the matter, contrary to practice well established by that time. Borden thus felt insulted, which led to considerable difficulties at the beginning of Cavendish's tenure, officially beginning after he was on 11 November 1916 sworn in during a ceremony held in Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
.
In that era, there was social unrest in the country. Not only was the women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
movement gaining momentum in Canada and calls were coming out of the prairies for socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
changes to the governmental system, but continued to rage around the world. Canada was providing troops and supplies, and Cavendish, shortly after his installation, and on the advice of Borden, introduced conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
, a decision that was particularly divisive between French
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
and English Canadian
English Canadian
An English Canadian is a Canadian of English ancestry; it is used primarily in contrast with French Canadian. Canada is an officially bilingual state, with English and French official language communities. Immigrant cultural groups ostensibly integrate into one or both of these communities, but...
s and sparked the Conscription Crisis of 1917
Conscription Crisis of 1917
The Conscription Crisis of 1917 was a political and military crisis in Canada during World War I.-Background:...
. In the same year, the Governor General also travelled to Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
to survey the damage caused by the Halifax Explosion
Halifax Explosion
The Halifax Explosion occurred on Thursday, December 6, 1917, when the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, was devastated by the huge detonation of the SS Mont-Blanc, a French cargo ship, fully loaded with wartime explosives, which accidentally collided with the Norwegian SS Imo in "The Narrows"...
on 6 December; there he met with survivors and addressed the women of the Voluntary Aid Detachment
Voluntary Aid Detachment
The Voluntary Aid Detachment was a voluntary organisation providing field nursing services, mainly in hospitals, in the United Kingdom and various other countries in the British Empire. The organisation's most important periods of operation were during World War I and World War II.The...
.
The Canadian victory in 1917 at Vimy Ridge
Battle of Vimy Ridge
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a military engagement fought primarily as part of the Battle of Arras, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the Canadian Corps, of four divisions, against three divisions of the German Sixth Army...
, however, helped fuel Canadian pride and nationalism at home and the Governor General, while conscious of his role's remaining connection to the British government, used this military win to positively and publicly encourage reconciliation between Canada's two main linguistic groups. At all times, Cavendish was careful to consult with his prime minister and the leaders of His Majesty's Loyal Opposition
Official Opposition (Canada)
In Canada, Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition , commonly known as the Official Opposition, is usually the largest parliamentary opposition party in the House of Commons or a provincial legislative assembly that is not in government, either on its own or as part of a governing coalition...
in Canada on matters related to conscription and the war effort.
Cavendish took interest in the lives of Canadians, and conducted various tours of the country to meet with them. As a land owner himself, the Governor General was particularly focused on the development of farming in Canada and during his travels, at agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and horticultural
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
fairs, shows, and sugaring-off parties in the Gatineau
Gatineau
Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census...
, discussed agricultural issues with farmers and other people in the industry. His speeches often referred to Canada's potential to lead the world in agricultural research and development, and one of his major projects while viceroy was to establish experimental farms, including the Crown's central one in Ottawa
Central Experimental Farm
The Central Experimental Farm is an agricultural facility, working farm, and research centre of the Research Branch of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. As the name indicates, this farm is centrally located in and completely surrounded by the City of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada...
. At the same time, Cavendish acted as a patron of the arts; when not on tour or residing at La Citadelle
Citadelle of Quebec
The Citadelle — the French name is used both in English and French — is a military installation and official residence located atop Cap Diamant, adjoining the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada...
the viceregal residence in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
at which the Duke enjoyed spending time Cavendish was frequently visiting the National Gallery
National Gallery of Canada
The National Gallery of Canada , located in the capital city Ottawa, Ontario, is one of Canada's premier art galleries.The Gallery is now housed in a glass and granite building on Sussex Drive with a notable view of the Canadian Parliament buildings on Parliament Hill. The acclaimed structure was...
and hosting theatrical performances at Rideau Hall
Rideau Hall
Rideau Hall is, since 1867, the official residence in Ottawa of both the Canadian monarch and the Governor General of Canada. It stands in Canada's capital on a 0.36 km2 estate at 1 Sussex Drive, with the main building consisting of 170 rooms across 9,500 m2 , and 24 outbuildings around the...
. There, on the grounds of the royal residence, during the winters, the Cavendishes also hosted tobogganing and skating
Ice skating
Ice skating is moving on ice by using ice skates. It can be done for a variety of reasons, including leisure, traveling, and various sports. Ice skating occurs both on specially prepared indoor and outdoor tracks, as well as on naturally occurring bodies of frozen water, such as lakes and...
parties, as well as hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
matches. Officially, Cavendish in 1918 travelled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to meet informally with President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
and, the following year, hosted Prince Edward, Prince of Wales
Edward VIII of the United Kingdom
Edward VIII was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India, from 20 January to 11 December 1936.Before his accession to the throne, Edward was Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay...
, during his first tour of Canada.
By the end of his tenure as governor general, Cavendish had overcome all of the initial suspicions that had surrounded his appointment; both men who served as his Canadian prime minister Borden and Arthur Meighen
Arthur Meighen
Arthur Meighen, PC, QC was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served two terms as the ninth Prime Minister of Canada: from July 10, 1920 to December 29, 1921; and from June 29 to September 25, 1926. He was the first Prime Minister born after Confederation, and the only one to represent a riding...
came to view him as a personal friend not only of theirs, but also of Canada's. The former said of Cavendish: "No Governor General has come with a more comprehensive grasp of public questions as they touch not only this country and the United Kingdom, but the whole Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
." The Duke left as a mark of his time in Canada the Devonshire Cup, for the annual golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
competition of the Canadian Seniors Golf Association, and the Duke of Devonshire Trophy, for the Ottawa Horticultural Society
Ottawa Horticultural Society
The Ottawa Horticultural Society was founded in 1892. It is a non-profit organization that exists to promote gardening and horticulture in Ottawa. This is done through a series of presentations, flower shows and workshops...
. For Cavendish, Canada left with his family the two aides-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
who married his daughters while the family resided in Ottawa.
Post-viceregal life
On returning to England, Devonshire worked at the League of NationsLeague of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
before serving from 1922 to 1924 as Secretary of State for the Colonies
Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet minister in charge of managing the United Kingdom's various colonial dependencies....
(with a seat in the British Cabinet) under Prime Ministers Andrew Bonar Law and Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars...
. In 1922, he was also appointed by King George V to the committee that was charged with looking into how honours were to be bestowed in the United Kingdom. He simultaneously continued to run his agricultural land holdings, especially around Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House is a stately home in North Derbyshire, England, northeast of Bakewell and west of Chesterfield . It is the seat of the Duke of Devonshire, and has been home to his family, the Cavendish family, since Bess of Hardwick settled at Chatsworth in 1549.Standing on the east bank of the...
, where he died in May 1938.
Titles
- 3 May 1868 11 December 1905: Mister Victor Cavendish
- 11 December 1905 24 March 1908: The Right Honourable Victor Cavendish
- 24 March 1908 11 November 1916: His Grace the Duke of Devonshire
- 11 November 1916 19 September 1918: His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of the Militia and Naval Forces of Canada
- 19 September 1918 2 August 1921: His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of the Militia and Naval and Air Forces of Canada
- 2 August 1921 6 May 1938: His Grace the Duke of Devonshire
Cavendish's style and title as governor general was, in full, and in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: His Excellency the Most Noble Sir Victor Christian William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire, Marquess of Hartington, Earl of Burlington, Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Justice of the Peace, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of the Militia and Naval and Air Forces of Canada, and in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: Son Excellence le très Noble Sir Victor Christian William Cavendish, duc de Devonshire, marquess de Hartington, comte de Burlington, chevalier de le nobilissime ordre de la Jarretière, chevalier grand-croix de le très distingué ordre de Saint-Michel et Saint-George, chevalier grand-croix de l'ordre royal de Victoria, Justice de paix, gouverneur générale et commandant en chef de la milice et les forces navales et aérienne du Canada.
In his post-viceregal life, Alexander's style and title was: His Grace The Most Noble Sir Victor Christian William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire, Marquess of Hartington, Earl of Burlington, Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Justice of the Peace.
Cavendish's post-nominal letters
Post-nominal letters
Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles or designatory letters, are letters placed after the name of a person to indicate that the individual holds a position, educational degree, accreditation, office, or honour. An individual may use several different sets of...
are, in order according to the Oxford University Calendar Notes on Style: KG, PC, GCMG, GCVO, JP, MA Cantab, LLD(hc) Alb
Honours
| Ribbon bars of the Duke of Devonshire | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Appointments 11 December 1905 6 May 1938: Member of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council (PC) 19 August 1912 6 May 1938: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(GCVO) 28 July 1916 6 May 1938: Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(GCMG) 11 November 1916 2 August 1921: Chief Scout for Canada 11 November 1916 6 May 1938: Honorary Member of the Royal Military College of Canada Club
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
n/a 6 May 1938: Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
(KG)
Medals 1902: King Edward VII Coronation Medal
King Edward VII Coronation Medal
The King Edward VII Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal issued in 1902 to commemorate the coronation of King Edward VII.-Issue:The medal was only awarded to people who attended the coronation, or participated in the coronation parade...
1911: King George V Coronation Medal
King George V Coronation Medal
The King George V Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made in 1911 to celebrate the coronation of George V.-Issue:This coronation medal was the first to be issued to people who were not in attendance at the coronation...
1935: King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
The King George V Silver Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the coronation of King George V.-Issue:...
1937: King George VI Coronation Medal
King George VI Coronation Medal
The King George VI Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of King George VI.-Issue:For Coronation and Jubilee medals, the practice up until 1977 was that United Kingdom authorities decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to each of...
Honorary military appointments
11 November 1916 2 August 1921: Colonel of the Regiment of the Governor General's Horse GuardsThe Governor General's Horse Guards
The Governor General's Horse Guards is an armoured reconnaissance regiment in the Primary Reserve of the Canadian Army, part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group. Based in Toronto, it is the most senior reserve regiment in Canada, and the only Household Cavalry regiment of...
11 November 1916 2 August 1921: Colonel of the Regiment of the Governor General's Foot Guards
Governor General's Foot Guards
The Governor General's Foot Guards is one of three Household regiments in the Primary Reserve of the Canadian Army, along with The Governor General's Horse Guards and the Canadian Grenadier Guards. The GGFG is the most senior militia infantry regiment in Canada."Civitas et Princeps Cura Nostra" is...
11 November 1916 2 August 1921: Colonel of the Regiment of the Canadian Grenadier Guards
The Canadian Grenadier Guards
The Canadian Grenadier Guards is the second most senior and oldest infantry regiment in the Reserve Force of the Canadian Forces. Located in Montreal, its primary role is the provision of combat-ready troops in support of Canadian regular infantry...
Honorary degrees
1917: University of AlbertaUniversity of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
, Doctor of Laws (LLD)
Honorific eponyms
Awards: Devonshire Cup: Duke of Devonshire TrophyGeographic locations: Devonshire Crescent, Imperial
Imperial, Saskatchewan
- See also :* List of communities in Saskatchewan* List of towns in Saskatchewan-External links:****-Footnotes:...