His Excellency His Grace John George Edward Henry Douglas Sutherland Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll, Marquess of Lorne KG, KT, GCMG, GCVO, VD, PC Governor General & Commander-in-Chief of Canada

His Excellency His Grace John George Edward Henry Douglas Sutherland Campbell, 9^th Duke of Argyll, Marquess of Lorne KG, KT, GCMG, GCVO, VD, PC Governor General & Commander-in-Chief of Canada

The 4^th Governor General of Canada since the Canadian Confederation was His Grace the Duke of Argyll, though he was the Marquess of Lorne at the time of him being in the Vice-Regal office.

The Earl of Campbell was born in London in 1845 to George, Marquess of Lorne and his wife Lady Elizabeth Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (daughter of the 2^nd Duke of Sutherland). He was educated at Edinburgh Academy, Eton, St. Andrew’s and finally at Trinity College Cambridge.

Before coming to Canada he travelled throughout North and South America writing travel books and poems as well as representing the constituency of Argyllshire from 1868 in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.

In 1871 The Earl of Campbell married Her Royal Highness Princess Louise, the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert therefore becoming the first subject to marry a Princess since 1515

When it was first announced that the Earl was to become the 4^th Governor General of Canada there was huge excitement as it would be the first time that a Royal couple would be in Rideau Hall and the then Prime Minster of Canada took time out of his campaign schedule and arranged special events and a corps of guards to protect the Princess. The press were not as excited and complained that Canada might end up having a formal Royal Court in Canada, though this was unfounded and never happened.

At the age of 33 the Earl of Campbell was the youngest Governor General of Canada though this did not stop him and Princess Louise making a lasting impact on Canada. They supported the formation of the Royal Society of Canada, Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and the National Gallery of Art.

Throughout his term of office the Earl was extremely interested in Canada and Canadians in general and met with many First Nations leaders

After his term of office ended Princess Louise returned to the United Kingdom and the Earl followed her two years later. He was appointed Governor and Constable of Windsor Castle and served as MP for the City of Manchester. In 1900 on the death of his father he became the Duke of Argyll. He and Princess Louise lived in Kensington Palace until his death in 1914.

The Duke of Argyll’s coat of arms is blazoned: 

Arms: Quarterly, 1 and 4 gyronny of eight Or and Sable; 2 and 3 Argent a galley or lymphad Sable, sails furled, flag and pennons flying and oars in action proper

Crest (shown above the coronet of a Duke): On a wreath Or and Sable, a boar's head fessewise erased Or, armed Argent

One depiction of the crest is shown above the two insignia of office that are generally shown crossed in saltire behind the arms of the Duke of Argyll:

A baton Gules powdered with thistles Or, ensigned with an imperial crown proper, thereon the crest of Scotland (for the office of Hereditary Great Master of the Household in Scotland); and: A sword proper hilt and pommel Or (for the office of Lord Justice General of Scotland).

Supporters: Two lions rampant guardant Gules

Note: The heraldic elements here represent Lorne later in his life, when he succeeded to the title of Duke of Argyll. When he was Governor General, Lorne used these arms with a three-point label, and with a Marquess's coronet.

His Excellency The Most Honourable Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwoord, 1st Marquess of Dufferin & Ava, Earl of Dufferin, Viscount Clandeboye, Baron Dufferin and Claneboye KP, GCB, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, PC Governor General & Commander-in-Chief of Canada

His Excellency The Most Honourable Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwoord, 1^st Marquess of Dufferin & Ava, Earl of Dufferin, Viscount Clandeboye, Baron Dufferin and Claneboye  KP, GCB, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, PC Governor General & Commander-in-Chief of Canada

The 2^nd Governor General of Canada since the Canadian Confederation was the 1^st Marquess of Dufferin &c.

Hon. Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood was born in Florence in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in 1826 to a wealthy and historic Irish family whose titles date back to the early 1600’s.

 He “returned” to England to be educated initially at Eton and then Christ College Oxford where he was to become President of the Oxford Union Society though he left the university after just two years without obtaining a degree. While only 15 years old he inherited his father Baroncy and was therefore created Baron Dufferin and Claneboye in the Peerage of Ireland and at 23 was appointed Lord-in-Waiting to HM Queen Victoria, Empress of India.    

Lord Dufferin became a public servant even though he had experience as a published author and started a life long dedication to public service and service to the monarch. His first major task was as a British representative to Syria to investigate the causes of a civil war that was currently underway. He so distinguished himself that he was appointed Under Secretary of State for India in 1864, Under Secretary of War in 1866 and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in 1868 under Prime Minster Gladstone’s government.

In 1871 he was raised in the peerage as the Earl of Dufferin in the County of Down and Viscount Clandeboye also in the County of Down.

Following the death of his mother his diplomatic career advanced very rapidly seeing him appointed as Governor General of Canada in 1872.   His six years in the Vice-Regal office was an interesting one that saw Prince Edward Island join the Confederation and key national institutions such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Royal Military College of Canada and the Intercontinental Railway.

Believing that the 1^st and 2^nd Governor’s General did not involve themselves enough he travelled across the country engaging with as many Canadian’s as possible while working hard to strengthen the ties back to the British Empire. 

During his time as Governor General of Canada he established the Governor General’s Academic Medals of which more than 50,000 have been awarded; made many improvements to Rideau Hall including a public ice skating rink that he personally contributed just short of $2,000. Both Lord and Lady Dufferin were and remain very popular with Canadian’s off all walks of life with many statues, buildings, streets etc being named after him.

After leaving Ottawa in 1878 he returned to the United Kingdom to carry on his public service. He was subsequently served as Ambassador to Imperial Russia (1879-1881); Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire (1881-1884) during which time the British Empire invaded Egypt (then part of the Ottoman Empire). In 1884 he achieved the highest diplomatic post in the British Empire that of Viceroy’s crown of India between 1884 and 1888.

On the 19^th February 1902 Lord Dufferin died at his home in Wales.

He and his wife had seven children with the two youngest being born in Canada.

·      Archibald James Leofric Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, Earl of Ava (1863 -1900)

·      Lady Helen Hermione Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, Vicountess of Novar GBE, LLD, JP (1865-1941)

·      Terence Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 2^nd Marquess of Dufferin & Ava (1866-1918)

·      Lady Hermione Catherine Helen Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood (1869-1960)

·      Lord Basil Gawaine Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood (1870-1917)

·      Lady Victoria Alexandrina Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood (1873-1938)

·      Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 3^rd Marquess of Dufferin & Ava (1875-1930)

The Marquess of Dufferin’s coat of arms is blazoned:  

Arms: Quarterly, 1 and 4 Azure a fess Or, in chief a crescent Argent between two mullets Or and in base a mascle Argent; 2nd quarterly, 1 and 4 Or an eagle displayed Sable, 2 and 3 Argent two bars Sable, each charged with three martlets Or; 3rd Gules three cinquefoils pierced Ermine, on a chief Or a lion passant Gules; overall the augmentation of a baronet being an inescutcheon Argent charged with a sinister hand erect couped at the wrist and appaumé Gules

Crest: 1) On a cap of maintenance Gules turned up Ermine, a crescent Argent; 2) (shown above the cornet of a Marquess), On a ducal coronet, a martlet Or; 3) A demi-antelope affronté Ermine attired and unguled Or holding between the hoofs a heart Gules

Supporters: Dexter, a lion Gules armed and langued Azure gorged with a tressure flory-counter-flory Or; sinister, an heraldic tiger Ermine gorged with a like tressure Gules; each supporter supporting a flag-staff proper there from flowing a banner Or charged with a peacock in his pride also proper.

His Excellency The Right Honourable John Young, 1st Baron Lisgar Bt., GCB, GCMG, PC, Governor General & Commander-in-Chief of Canada

His Excellency The Right Honourable John Young, 1^st Baron Lisgar Bt., GCB, GCMG, PC, Governor General & Commander-in-Chief of Canada

The 2^nd Governor General of Canada since the Canadian Confederation was Lord Lisgar who assumed the Vice-Regal office in 1869, after Viscount Monck stood down.  He remained in office until 1872.

John Young was born in British India as his father, Sir William Young Bt., worked for the British East India Company.  He remained there until he “returned” to the United Kingdom to be educated, first at Eton and then at Corpus Christi College Oxford where he graduated in 1829, and was subsequently called to the bar in 1834.

After completing his education he proceeded to enter politics, standing and winning his seat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in 1831 for the county of Cavan. During his political career, which spanned 24 years, he held a range of government positions including Lord of the Treasury for Sir Robert Peel, (appointed 1841), Secretary of the Treasury (appointed in 1844), Chief Secretary for Ireland (1852-1855) when he left the House to assume the position of Lord High Commissioner of Ionian Islands until his recall to London in 1855 in a level of disgrace, due to leaked papers from his office.

On the passing of his father in 1848 John inherited his titles and became Sir John Young Bt., for completeness back then it would have been “Bart”.

In 1860 John was appointed as Governor of New South Wales, a position he held until 1867 which is interesting as this was the year that Canada, as a country, came into being. During his time in South Australia he had to manage one major crisis that occurred soon after his appointment while the remaining of his term was uneventful.

He was appointed as the second Governor General of Canada since confederation in 1868, several years after his recall to London, however he did not officially take office until February 2^nd the following year. He only remained in office for a few years before returning to his home in Ireland in 1872.

On October 26^th, 1870 Sir John was raised to the peerage as Baron Lisgar and Bailieborough in the county of Cavan. He sadly passed away 6 years later and is buried in the church local to his home.

Lord Lisgar left a number of legacies within Canada including Lisgar Collegiate Institute in Ottawa, Lisgar Street in Toronto, and Lisgar Avenue in Saskatoon.

Lord Lisgar’s coat of arms is blazoned: 

Arms: Argent three piles Sable, each charged with a trefoil slipped Or, on a chief Sable, three annulets Or, and in canton the augmentation of a baronet being an inescutcheon, a sinister hand erect couped at the wrist and appaumé Gules

Crest (shown above the coronet of a Baron): On a wreath Argent and Sable, a demi-lion rampant Gules, charged on the shoulder with a trefoil slipped Or, holding in the dexter paw a sprig of three maple leaves all proper

One of the depictions of the crest is placed above Lord Lisgar's motto, PRUDENTIA.

Unusually for a Peer, Lord Lisgar did not use supporters that his rank as a Baron entitled him to. We assume this was a personal choice.

His Excellency The Right Honourable Charles Stanley Monck, 4th Viscount Monck, 1st Baron Monck GCMG, PC Governor General & Commander-in-Chief of Canada

His Excellency The Right Honourable Charles Stanley Monck, 4^th Viscount Monck, 1^st Baron Monck GCMG, PC Governor General & Commander-in-Chief of Canada

Charles Stanley Monck was born in Templemore, Ireland in 1819 to Charles Joseph Kelly Monck, the 3^rd Viscount, and Bridget Willington.  He obtained a law degree at Trinity College, Dublin and married his first cousin Elizabeth Monck in 1844.  They had seven children, of whom four survived to adulthood.

In 1849 Monck inherited his father’s title to become the 4^th Viscount Monck and in 1852 he was elected to the House of Commons as parliament as MP for Portsmouth and from 1855 to 1858 was Lord of the Treasury under Lord Palmerston. 

In 1861 Viscount Monck was appointed as the Governor General of British North America.  The American Civil War had begun and had caused diplomatic unease between the United States and Britain, and the Canadian government was keen to distance itself from North America.  Monck worked alongside John A. MacDonald, George Brown, George Etienne Cartier and Etienne-Pachal Tache to form the Great Coalition in 1864, which united Canada. 

Between 1864 and 1866 the Quebec Conference, Charlottetown Conference and London Conference took place to discuss Canadian confederation.  Viscount Monck concurrently held the title of Lieutenant Governor of both Canada East and Canada West throughout these deliberations and in 1866 Queen Victoria elevated Viscount Monck to the peerage of the United Kingdom as Baron Monck of Ballytrammon.  Her Majesty also extended his term in Canada in order that he could become the first Governor General of the new Dominion.  The Coalition governed the Province of Canada until confederation in 1867 when Baron Monck took up this position, a role he held for one year. 

Baron Monck established Rideau Hall, Ottawa as the residence of the Governor General of Canada, a tradition which remains to this day.  Roads were poor so Baron Monck often travelled to Parliament by canopied boat on the River Ottawa.

Baron Monck was succeeded in 1869 by John Young, 1^st Baron Lisgar, at which time he returned to Ireland.  In 1869 Baron Monck was knighted (Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George) and appointed to the privy council.  He was made Lord Lieutenant of Dublin in 1874, and died in Ireland in 1894.

Coat of Arms of Viscount Monck

Arms: Gules (red) a chevron between three lions' heads erased Argent (silver/white).

Crest (shown above the coronet of a Viscount): A dragon passant wings elevated Sable.

Supporters (holding shield): Dexter (facing viewers left), a dragon; sinister (facing viewers right), a lion, both Argent (silver/white) and holding in the forepaw a branch of laurel resting on the shoulder fructed proper.