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The world's gone made for the hilarious Lord Aberdeen. But just who was this guy?
John Hamilton-Gordon was only Governor General of Canada for five years (1893-8) but in that time he oversaw four Prime Ministers, the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway and discovery of gold in the Yukon. He was ballsy - dismissing PM Tupper who refused to go after losing the 1896 election because Tupper said Wilfred Laurier wouldn't be able to form a government (Laurier did fine, thank you).
He travelled to the Maritimes*, where he visited Alexander Graham Bell, and Cape Breton, where lots of locals still spoke Gaelic. He was made an honorary chief of the Blackfoot and Six Nations peoples. He and his wife (original name Ishbel Maria Marjoribanks) were keen on sport, and curled, sleighed and hockeyed.
She, by the way, was the first President of the International Council of Women and founded the Victorian Order of Nurses, which was dedicated to caring for people in their own homes. They were both keenly interested in the welfare of ordinary Canadians, and transformed the Governor General's role from being an Imperial figurehead into being a symbol representing the citizens, a sort of popular tribune. This is what Wikipedia says, anyway. I imagine it describes Lord A, but his successors? I just don't know.
Half of Canada is named after him, it seems.
He was widely believed to be the model for Lord Loam in JM Barrie's The Admirable Crichton - the Aberdeen's were rumoured to dine with their servants from time to time - but this was denied by Barrie.
NONE OF THIS MATTERS A FIG
Because Lady A's dad was Dudley Marjoribanks, brewery heir, low-flying Liberal parliamentarian and later Baron Tweedmouth.
SO WHAT, YOU ARSE? I'VE BEEN READING FOR A DAY NOW. I DON'T CARE ABOUT THESE GUYS! WHAT DID BARON TWEEDMOUTH EVER DO FOR ME?
He invented the golden retriever. True fact. Tomorrow I will explain how.
*Three Provinces of the Eastern seaboard, like you didn't already know.
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