Devonshire, Duke of (1868-1938), was governor general of Canada from 1916 to 1921. He served during World War I (1914-1918), when French-Canadian opposition to Canada’s military draft divided the nation. Devonshire worked to reestablish national unity (see Borden, Sir Robert L. (Conscription crisis)).
Devonshire was born on May 31, 1868, in London. His given name was Victor Christian William Cavendish. He was elected to the British Parliament in 1891. He was treasurer to the household of Queen Victoria in 1900, and of King Edward VII from 1901 to 1903. Cavendish became Duke of Devonshire on the death of his uncle in 1908. From 1922 to 1924, he served as secretary of state for Britain’s colonies. He died on May 6, 1938.
