9th-duke-of-devonshire | My Family Ancestry

9th Duke of Devonshire, Victor Christian William Cavendish

Victor Christian William Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire: Life, Legacy, and Political Career

Victor Christian William Cavendish, the 9th Duke of Devonshire, was the father-in-law of my fifth cousin, Brigadier Honourable George Evan Michael Baillie of Dochfour.

Early Life and Family Background

Victor was the eldest son of Lord Edward Cavendish, himself the son of the 7th Duke of Devonshire, and Emma Lascelles. His uncle was Spencer Cavendish, the 8th Duke of Devonshire.

Educated at Eton College, Victor went on to Trinity College, Cambridge, in May 1837. While at Cambridge, he served part-time in the Derby Yeomanry, receiving a commission as a second lieutenant in 1890. He rose to the rank of Major in September 1901 and retired from the Yeomanry in 1911.

Marriage and Children

On July 30, 1892, Victor married Lady Evelyn FitzMaurice, daughter of the Marquess of Lansdowne, who served as both Viceroy of India and Governor General of Canada. Together, they had seven children:

Edward, Marquess of Hartington
Lady Maud Louisa Emma
Lady Blanche Katharine
Lady Dorothy
Lady Rachel
Lord Charles Arthur Francis
Lady Anne

Lady Maud Louisa Emma later married my fifth cousin, Brigadier Honourable George Evan Michael Baillie.

Political Career and Inheritance

In May 1891, Victor’s father, a Member of Parliament for West Derbyshire, passed away. Victor successfully contested his father’s seat, becoming the youngest MP in the House of Commons at the time. He held various political roles for 17 years until inheriting the dukedom from his uncle on March 24, 1908. Upon becoming the 9th Duke of Devonshire, Victor moved from the House of Commons to the House of Lords and inherited the family seat, the iconic Chatsworth House in Derbyshire.

Governor General of Canada

On August 8, 1916, King George appointed Victor as Governor General of Canada on the recommendation of British Prime Minister H.H. Asquith. This appointment bypassed consultation with Canadian Prime Minister Robert Borden, creating initial tension between the Governor General and the Prime Minister.

Victor assumed office during a period of significant social and political upheaval. Canada was actively involved in World War I, and Victor, at Borden’s request, introduced conscription. This decision ignited the Canadian Conscription Crisis of 1917, as English-speaking Canadians generally supported conscription while French-speaking Canadians strongly opposed it.

In December 1916, Victor personally visited Halifax following the catastrophic Halifax Explosion, the largest man-made explosion before the atomic bomb. He met survivors and supported relief efforts, including the Voluntary Aid Detachment.

Victor navigated the complex political landscape with care, consulting both Canadian and British leaders on all matters concerning conscription. The decisive Canadian victory at Vimy Ridge in 1917 helped foster national unity, and Victor used this momentum to encourage reconciliation between English- and French-speaking Canadians. By the end of his term, both Prime Ministers Borden and Meighen regarded him as a trusted friend and ally of Canada.

Later Career and Legacy

After returning to England, Victor served on the League of Nations from 1922 to 1924 and was Secretary of State for the Colonies, holding cabinet positions under Prime Ministers Andrew Bonar Law and Stanley Baldwin. He opposed Lord Delamere’s push for white settler self-government in Kenya and advocated for protecting African interests.