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Lorne, Marquis of. - The
Right Hon. Sir John George Edward Henry Douglas Sutherland Campbell, K.G.,
G.C.M.G., Marquis of Lorne, ex-Governor-General of Canada, was born at
Stafford House, St. James Park, London, England, on the 6th of August,
1845. He is the eldest son of the eighth Duke of Argyle and Lady Elizabeth
Georgina Sutherland Levison-Gower, eldest daughter of the second Duke of
Sutherland. The young Marquis seems to have been a favourite when a child,
for we find Her Majesty the Queen, in her "journal of our Life in the
Highlands," makes the following very pleasing aallusion to the boy, who as
time sped on was to become her son-in-law. Speaking of her reception at
Inverary Castle, the seat of the Duke of Argyle, in Argyleshire, Scotland,
she says:- "It was in the true Highland fashion. The pipers walked before
the carriage, and the Highlanders on either side as we approached the
house. Outside stood the Marquis of Lorne, just two years old, a dear,
white, fat, fair little fellow, with reddish hair, but very delicate
features, like both his father and mother; he is such a merry, independent
little child. He had a black velvet dress and jacket, with a sporan, scarf
and Highland bonnet." The marquis was educated at Eton, and afterwards
passed successively to the University of St. Andrews and Trinity College,
Cambridge. In 1866, he became connected with the military, by appointment,
as captain of the London Scottish Volunteers, and in 1868 was commissioned
lieutenant-colonel of the Argyle and Bute Volunteer Artillery Brigade. For
literary and artistic pursuits the marquis possesses much natural ability
as well as cultivated taste, the result of study, observation and
experience. His first published work was, "A Tour in the Tropics," the
result of his observations during a trip through the West Indies and the
eastern part of North America, in 1866. Although the author was very young
at this time, the appearance of this work displayed to the public the keen
sense of observation and discriminating judgment which he inherits from
his father. During this trip he made his first visit to Canada, and
conceived a very favourable impression of this country. His next
publication was, "Guido and Leta, a Tale of the Riviera," a meritous poem
which attracted much interest, not so much on account of its titled
author, as because of the genuine worth and beauty of its composition. In
1877 appeared from his pen "The Book of Psalms, literally rendered in
Verse," which is doubtless the best of his literary productions. It called
forth considerable praise, and is really a work of great merit. In 1868,
he became a member of the House of Commons, representing the constituency
of Argyleshire, and was re-elected by acclamation in two subsequent
general elections, and continued in parliament until his appointment to
Canada. During part of the Duke of Argyle's term of office in Mr.
Gladstone's Cabinet, the Marquis acted as his private secretary,
displaying much aptitude for affairs of state. On the 21st of March, 1871,
he was united in marriage to Her Royal Highness the Princess Louise
Caroline Alberta, Duchess of Saxony, the sixth child and fourth daughter
of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, who was born on the 18th of March, 1848.
Since her marriage brought her prominently before the public, she has been
regarded with much affectionate interest by the people, and her personal
qualities, independently of her high rank, are such as to have earned for
her love and respect. She is very accomplished in art and music, and
gladly took her part in the duties of hospitality devolving on the
Governor-General, when she was in Canada. Her marriage with the Marquis
took place at Windsor, in St. George's Chapel and was solemnized with
imposing ceremonies. Soon after this event, the Marquis of Lorne was
mentioned in connection with the governor-generalship of Canada, and it
was generally believed that he would be the successor of Sir John Young,
but the appointment was finally given to Lord Dufferin. Upon the
expiration of the latter's term of office, however, it was deemed
expedient to offer the appointment to the marquis for various reasons, and
he and his Royal wife were received in the Dominion with great popular
demonstrations of welcome. On the occasion of their visits to all the
principal cities of Canada, during the summer of 1879, they were accorded
a welcome which could scarcely be more enthusiastic to their Queen's
representatives. In 1883 his lordship's very satisfactory term expired,
and he was succeeded in his office by the Marquis of Lansdowne. |
