Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire

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Garter-encircled shield of arms of Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire, KG, as displayed on his Order of the Garter stall plate in St. George's Chapel.

Victor Christian William Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> (31 May 1868 – 6 May 1938), known as Victor Cavendish until 1908, was a British peer and politician who served as Governor General of Canada.

A member of the Cavendish family, Victor Cavendish was the son of Lord Edward Cavendish and nephew of Spencer Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire. He was educated at Eton College and the University of Cambridge. After his father's death in 1891, he entered politics, winning his father's constituency unopposed. He held that seat 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. He held various government posts both prior to and after his rise to the peerage. In 1916, King George V appointed him governor general of Canada on the recommendation of Prime Minister H. H. Asquith, replacing Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, as viceroy. He occupied that post until succeeded by Lord Byng of Vimy in 1921. The appointment was initially controversial but, by the time of his return to England, the Duke had earned praise for the way in which he carried out his official duties.

Following his tenure as governor general, Devonshire 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. He was the last Duke to ever hold a cabinet post.

The Duke of Devonshire was also the father-in-law of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Harold Macmillan

Early life, education and military career

Cavendish was born at Devonshire House, Mayfair, London,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> the eldest son of Lord Edward Cavendish, himself the third son of the 7th Duke of Devonshire, and Emma Lascelles, both the daughter of William Lascelles and Lord Edward's cousin. Cavendish's younger brother was Lord Richard Cavendish and his uncles were Spencer Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington (later the eighth Duke of Devonshire), and Lord Frederick Cavendish.

Cavendish was educated at Eton College before being admitted to Trinity College, Cambridge, on 30 May 1887,<ref>Template:Acad</ref> where he served as secretary of the Pitt Club.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> During his years at Cambridge, Cavendish was initiated into Isaac Newton University Lodge.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His family was well-known at Cambridge. His grandfather was the Chancellor of the University until 1891. In 1874, William Cavendish, the Seventh Duke of Devonshire provided the funding for the Cavendish Laboratory for Physics and Chemistry at Cambridge. This is one of the most productive and influential labs in the world of natural sciences, leading to multiple Nobel Prizes in the twentieth century.<ref>Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, https://www.phy.cam.ac.uk/history Template:Webarchive</ref> Victor graduated in 1891 with a BA.<ref>The Canadian Encyclopedia, Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/victor-cavendish-9th-duke-of-devonshire#:~:text=Victor%20was%20the%20eldest%20son,as%20a%20politician%20and%20landowner</ref> Thereafter, he studied law and accounting in preparation for government service. He studied law at The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple and accounting at a private firm.<ref>Dictionary of Canadian Biography, https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/cavendish_victor_christian_william_16E.html</ref> He also served part-time with the Derbyshire Yeomanry, into which he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1890.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He was promoted major in September 1901<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> and retired from the Yeomanry in 1911.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The younger of his two brothers, John Spencer, died on active service in the First World War.<ref>Template:CWGC</ref>

Marriage and children

On 30 July 1892, Cavendish married Lady Evelyn Petty-FitzMaurice, the elder daughter of Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne, Viceroy of India and former Governor General of Canada.<ref name=GGCav>Template:Cite web</ref> The couple had seven children:<ref>Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003</ref>

Through his children's eventual marriages, Cavendish became the father-in-law of Henry Philip Hunloke; Christopher Holland-Martin; James Stuart, 1st Viscount Stuart of Findhorn; Harold Macmillan; Adele Astaire; and Victor Montagu, 10th Earl of Sandwich.

Chatsworth House, which Cavendish inherited upon acceding to the Dukedom of Devonshire in 1908

Political and Industry

In May 1891, shortly before Cavendish graduated from Cambridge, his father, who sat as the Member of Parliament for West Derbyshire, died and Cavendish entered the race for that parliamentary seat and won it. He thus became the youngest member of the British House of Commons at the time.<ref name=CE>Template:Citation</ref>

For 17 years, Cavendish held parliamentary positions. Between 1900 and 1903, he served as Treasurer of the Household,<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref><ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> from 1903 to 1905 as Financial Secretary to the Treasury, and on 11 December 1905 he was sworn of the Privy Council.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> In 1907, he was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Derbyshire.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>

When he succeeded to his uncle's dukedom on 24 March 1908, Devonshire, as he was thereafter known, was disqualified from holding his seat in the Commons, as he now held a place in the House of Lords. The same year, Devonshire was appointed as Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire, when he acted as President of the Derbyshire Territorial Force (TF) Association and Honorary Colonel of the 5th (TF) Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=kelly3>Template:Cite book</ref> In 1909 he was made Chancellor of the University of Leeds. He was then elected to two mayoral offices: first to that of Eastbourne, between 1909 and 1910, and then Chesterfield, from 1911 to 1912. In the House of Lords, Devonshire served as Conservative Chief Whip from 1911<ref>David Butler and Gareth Butler, Twentieth Century British Political Facts 1900-2000 (Macmillan 2000) p. 69.</ref> and, after the Conservatives joined the government during the First World War, as joint Government Chief Whip in the upper chamber,<ref>Butler and Butler (2000) p. 139.</ref> holding office as Civil Lord of the Admiralty.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>

He took an active interest in the iron industry and from 1910 to 1912 was the president of the Iron and Steel Institute. The University of Leeds General Reception Committee honoured his presidential years on 30 September, 1912 at an event at the hall of the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society with ensuing tours of nearby foundries including those founded by Robert Middleton and the family of Albert Kitson, 2nd Baron Airedale, both of whom were members of the committee. Kitson was honorary vice-president of the institute from 1911.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

During World War I he and the Derbyshire TF Association not only supported the TF battalions of the Sherwood Foresters but also raised a 'Pals battalion' for 'Kitchener's Army', the 16th (Service) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Chatsworth Rifles).<ref>Brig E.A. James, British Regiments 1914–18, London: Samson Books, 1978, ISBN 0-906304-03-2/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2001, ISBN 978-1-84342-197-9, p. 87.</ref> He also became Honorary Colonel and Commandant of the Derbyshire Volunteer Regiment of the Volunteer Training Corps in 1918.<ref name=kelly3/>

Governor General of Canada

A welcome for Devonshire at Belleville during one of his tours of Canada while Governor General

It was announced on 8 August 1916 that King George V had, by commission under the royal sign-manual and signet,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> approved the recommendation of his British prime minister, H. H. Asquith, to appoint Devonshire as his representative in Canada. The appointment caused political problems, as Canadian Prime Minister Robert Borden had not been consulted on the matter, contrary to practice that had been well established by that time. Borden thus felt insulted, which led to considerable difficulties at the beginning of Devonshire's tenure after he was sworn in on 11 November 1916 during a ceremony held in Halifax.<ref name=GGCav/>

In that era, there was social unrest in the country. The women's suffrage movement gaining momentum in Canada, calls were coming out of the prairies for socialist changes to the governmental system and war continued to rage around the world. Canada was providing troops and supplies, and shortly after his installation, acting on the advice of Borden, Devonshire introduced conscription, a decision that was particularly divisive between French and English Canadians and sparked the Conscription Crisis of 1917. The same year, he 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Canadian victory in 1917 at the Battle of 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 the victory positively and publicly to encourage reconciliation between Canada's two main linguistic groups. At all times, Devonshire 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.<ref name=GGCav/>

Devonshire took an active interest in the lives of Canadians and conducted various tours of the country to meet with them. As a landowner himself, the Governor General was particularly focused on the development of farming in Canada and during his travels.<ref name=CE/> At agricultural and horticultural fairs, shows, and sugaring-off parties in Gatineau, he 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 as viceroy was establishing experimental farms, including the Crown's central one in Ottawa. At the same time, Devonshire 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, he frequently visited the National Gallery and hosted theatrical performances at Rideau Hall. There, on the grounds of the royal residence, during the winters, the Devonshires also hosted tobogganing and skating parties, as well as hockey matches. Officially, in 1918 Devonshire travelled to the United States to meet President Woodrow Wilson informally, and the following year, he was host to Prince Edward, Prince of Wales, during his first tour of Canada.<ref name=GGCav/>

By the end of his tenure as Governor General, Devonshire had overcome all of the initial suspicions that had surrounded his appointment, and both men who served as his Canadian prime minister, Borden and Arthur Meighen, came to view him as a personal friend of them and also of Canada. The former said of Devonshire: "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".<ref name=GGCav/> 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,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and the Duke of Devonshire Trophy, for the Ottawa Horticultural Society. While in Canada, Devonshire's two aides-de-camp married his daughters.

Later career

St Peter's Churchyard, Edensor – grave of Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire KG, GCMG, GCVO, TD, PC (1868–1938)

On returning to England, Devonshire worked at the League of Nations before serving from 1922 to 1924 as Secretary of State for the Colonies (with a seat in the Cabinet, while headed by Prime Ministers Bonar Law and Stanley Baldwin).<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> There, he opposed the views of Lord Delemere, the leading white settler in Kenya, who had helped found the Happy Valley set and campaigned for self-government by white settlers. Devonshire advocated protecting the interests of the Africans.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Devonshire White Paper of 1923, which he authored, was cited as a reason why Kenya did not develop as a white minority rule, similar to the model of the Union of South Africa and Southern Rhodesia.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In 1922, he was appointed by King George V to the committee that was charged with looking into how honours were to be bestowed in the United Kingdom.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>

In 1925, the Cavendish Golf Club was opened in Derbyshire. In 1923, he commissioned the Lido Prize winner Dr. Alister MacKenzie to design the course. MacKenzie graduated from University of Cambridge in 1891 and attended the university at the same time as the future Duke.<ref>Alister MacKenzie Society (UK) Chronology, https://alistermackenzie.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/22nd-Revision-MacKenzie-Chronology-Jan-2025.pdf</ref> The land afforded by the Duke at the time of commission was not large. MacKenzie believed that the quality of a hole was not determined by its length. The resulting design is considered one of the finest short courses (less than 6,000 yards) in the United Kingdom. The course takes advantage of the natural features of the area, which is a hallmark of MacKenzie's designs. Augusta National, Cypress Point, Royal Melbourne, Meadow Club, Pasatiempo, and Crystal Downs are other courses designed by the same architect. Cavendish Golf Club is considered by some to be the inspiration for Augusta National, home of the Masters Tournament.<ref>Cavendish Golf Club, https://www.cavendishgolfclub.com/inspiration-for-augusta/</ref> In the quiet section of Buxton, the course is home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, hares, buzzards, kestrels, and sparrow hawks.<ref>UK Golf Guide: Cavendish Golf Club, https://www.thegolfguide.co.uk/golf-guide-golf-clubs/cavendish-golf-club/</ref>

From 1933 to his death, he was Honorary Colonel of the 24 (Derbyshire Yeomanry) Armoured Car Company, Royal Tank Regiment, in the Territorial Army.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He simultaneously continued to run his agricultural land holdings, especially around Chatsworth House, where he died in May 1938.

Arms

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Honours

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Ribbon bars of the Duke of Devonshire
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Appointments
Medals

Honorary military appointments

Honorary degrees

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Honorific eponyms

Awards
Geographic locations

Ottawa, Ontario Devonshire Community Public School

See also

References

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