CANADA HISTORY - Govenors General
When the Duke of Connaught took office as Canada's tenth Governor General in 1911. he became the first member of the Royal House to occupy that post.br>
The third and last surviving son of Queen Victoria, H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn was born on May 1st, 1850 on the 81st birthday of the Duke of Wellington, one of his godfathers from whom he took his first name, Arthur.br>
Destined for the Army, he received his education at the Royal Military College at Woolwich; served in Egypt and rose to the rank of general in may 1893. He occupied senior army training posts on the home front, saw service in Ireland, was Inspector General of the Imperial Forces, and in 1907 was Commander in Chief of the Mediterranean area.br>
The Duke was no stranger to Canada. He had served with the Royal Marines in Montreal in 1870 and had taken part in the suppression of the Red river uprising of that year. Port Arthur, Ontario had been named in his honour and in 1890, he travelled across Canada on his return journey from India.br>
The family, including the charming Princess Patricia, was interested in many activities, particularly horsemanship. During a visit to Montreal the Duke presented the Connaught Cup for competition in the Montreal Horse show, and to this day the award is still a coveted trophy.br>
His term of office was troubled by the outbreak of the First World War, but his military background enabled him to offer valuable and enthusiastic support to Canada's war effort. He helped to organize the second expeditionary force and the Canadian Patriotic Fund. Princess Patricia lent her patronage to the raising of a regiment and with 16 days a full compliment had been recruited. She presented the regiment with colours made by herself, bearing the gold monogram 'PP' on one side. he "Princess Pats" went on to make military history by their exploits and heroism.br>
On his return to England in 1916, he resumed his military service and fulfilled many royal functions. He died on January 16, 1942 and was succeeded by his grandson, the Earl of MacDuff.
