John Campbell Hamilton-Gordon,1st Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair (3 August 1847 – 7 March 1934),styled Earl of Aberdeen from 1870–1916,was a Scottish peer and colonial administrator. Born in Edinburgh,Aberdeen held office in several countries,serving twice as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1886;1905–1915) and serving from 1893 to 1898 as Governor General of Canada.[1]
As the third son,John was not expected to inherit his father's titles,which his eldest brother,George (1841–1870),inherited upon their father' death in 1864. However,in 1868,his elder brother James Henry (1845–1868) died by suicide,and two years later,George drowned on a voyage to Australia,unmarried and thus without heirs. John succeeded as 7th Earl of Aberdeen,as well as 7th Viscount of Formartine,4th Viscount Gordon,and 7th Lord Haddo,Methlic,Tarves and Kellie.[3]
In 1891,he bought the Coldstream Ranch in the northern Okanagan Valley in British Columbia and launched the first commercial orchard operations in that region,which gave birth to an industry and settlement colony as other Britons emigrated to the region because of his prestige and bought into the orcharding lifestyle.[8] The ranch is today part of the municipality of Coldstream,and various placenames in the area commemorate him and his family,such as Aberdeen Lake and Haddo Creek.[9][10]
He served as Governor General of Canada from 1893 to 1898 during a period of political transition. He travelled extensively throughout the country and is described as having "transformed the role of Governor General from that of the aristocrat representing the King or Queen in Canada to a symbol representing the interests of all citizens".[11]
He was again appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1905,and served until 1915. During his tenure he also served as Rector of the University of St Andrews (1913–1916),was created a Knight Companion of the Order of the Thistle (1906),and was created a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (1911) on the occasion of the King's visit to Dublin.[13] Following his retirement,he was created Earl of Haddo,in the County of Aberdeen,and Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair,in the County of Aberdeen,in the County of Meath and in the County of Argyll,in January 1916.[14]
Marriage and issue
Ishbel Hamilton-Gordon,Marchioness of Aberdeen and Temair
Aberdeen lived the later stages of his life at the House of Cromar in Tarland,Aberdeenshire,which he had built and where he died in 1934. His son,George,succeeded to the marquessate.
Jokes Cracked by Lord Aberdeen,a memoir collection of John Hamilton-Gordon's dinner party repartee,was first published in 1929. The "bafflingly unfunny" book,long out of print,gained a cult following in more recent times and was reissued in 2013.[20]
Coat of arms of John Hamilton-Gordon,1st Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair
Crest
On a wreath Azure,Or and Gules,two arms holding a bow and arrow straight upwards in a shooting posture and at full draught all Proper.
Escutcheon
Azure,three boars' heads couped Or armed proper langued Gules within a tressure flowered and counterflowered interchangeably with thistles,roses and fleurs-de-lis Or.
Supporters
Dexter an earl in his robes sinister a doctor of law in his robes both Proper.
↑The County Council of the Administrative County of Middlesex: 76 Years of Local Government, 1 April 1889 to 31 March 1965. Middlesex County Council. 1965. p.10.
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