1
Visiting RoyaltyThroughout Yale's history every now and then has been the presence of visiting royalty. Though brief, their stay in Yale is always remebered, and reinforces that Yale once thrived and existed as a place of importance.
2
Lady Jane Franklin, age 241815
England
3
Lady Jane Franklin1791 - 1875
Honoured Guest in Fort Yale 1
Namesake of Lady Franklin Rock
Widow to Lord Franklin of the ill-fated Franklin Arctic Expedition
"Sail, sail, adventurous barks! Go fearless forth
Storm on his Glacier-seat, the Misty North -
Give to Mankind the inhospitable zone
And Britain's trident plant in seas unknown…"
Eleanor Anne Porden Franklin 2
Lady Jane Franklin was world renowned for her inexhaustible quest to learn the fate of her husband, Lord Sir John Franklin, who was lost during his last Arctic expedition to find the Northwest Passage in 1845. After receiving confirmation of his death in 1858, she embarked on another of her many world tours, and visited Yale in 1861.
The townspeople were so honoured by her visit that they named a river pass after her, 3 now known as Lady Franklin Rock, the narrowest bottleneck on the lower Fraser River. She in turn contributed to the town, having her carpenters build pews and a unique chair for the church, which was under construction. The chair and a pew can still be viewed at the historic St. John the Divine Anglican Church in Yale.
Lady Jane has been described as one of those ironclad Victorian ladies of English society who urged their husbands to seek the glory due to them in the world of British exploration. The Commonwealth Navy had a surplus of warships, officers and sailors after the War of 1812 and prudently put them to use on global exploration, to map the farthest reaches of the British Empire and continue their claim into a large part of the known world.
The Northwest Passage was a 'grail' sought by many as a shortcut to the trade routes of the East. The Queen, for their efforts, knighted nearly every Arctic explorer, and every officer's wife who sought this distinction for her husband. Lady Franklin was one of the more forceful ones.4
Lord Franklin's last Arctic expedition departed in 1845; 5 and aside from sightings along the way, were never seen again by anyone but the Inuit people they encountered. Many years later word was brought by Dr. John Rae that he had spoken with and obtained relics from Inuit people at Pelly Bay who knew of a large group of 35-40 white men that had starved to death west of a large river some years before.
This was the first definite word that Lady Jane had received about her husband's fate, and she did not take it without protest, as she had been lobbying and fundraising for years to mount more expeditions to search for him. She continued to seek more confirmation, but the news was always bad, and she was forced eventually to admit that Franklin was indeed lost, and now dead.
Sixty-eight year old Lady Jane Franklin, accompanied by her 44-year-old niece and constant companion Sophie Cracroft, 6 sailed up to Yale from Victoria, then New Westminster; in the company of the Royal Engineers. Her friend Captain George H. Richards, RE, could not conduct them because of other duties, so he assigned 2nd Lt. Hankin, RN as their escort.
They sailed on the Otter from Victoria to New Westminster, staying overnight in Sapperton, the RE base camp; very impressed with the quality of the construction and design of the main house there. The lady and her niece then went upriver to Yale aboard the Maria under Captain Irving.
"Arriving at Yale, which 'looked rather dreary, and was in a perfect sop of mud', they visited ashore but decided to keep their staterooms on the Maria." 7
The most memorable event of Lady Jane Franklin's visit is the dedication of the Pass.
"It had been arranged the evening before, that we were to be taken up the river in a canoe through a fine pass known only by the Spanish term of Cañon (pronounced Canyon) up to some Falls 8. Mr. Dallas had sent up an order for this, to the H.B.Co's agent here; and at 10 o'clock, one of the largest canoes was waiting for us, which, on entering, we found to be manned by 12 Indians, all dressed in red woolen shirts, with gay ribbons in honour of my Aunt. They rowed of course in the Indian fashion, with short paddles. Five at one end, and five at the other, with one man standing in the bow, the other at the stern - we seated in the middle… On our left (right bank of the river) a road 9 is being made along the face of the hill by the Engineers of New Westminster, involving blasting, bridging ravines, and scientific leveling. It was a portion of it that Captain Parsons was come to inspect and he was now at his work." 10
While the ladies were viewing the road works upriver and enjoying a picnic lunch with Captain Grant, Lt. Palmer, and the road crew, a surprise was being prepared for them just below. After lunch they climbed back into the canoe for the trip back down.
"We pulled back easily, the current carrying us down with great rapidity, and our boatmen began again to sing in chorus, or rather one gave a sort of recitative (which we were told set forth the charms of their vocation) echoed in chorus by the rest, whose lungs seem to be in excellent order. On reaching the narrowest part of the Cañon, we beheld (suspended from the rafters of a salmon drying shed) a long pole stretching over the stream, on which was hung a white banner with the words "Lady Franklin Pass" printed in large letters. The Indians stopped their paddling and we were told that this name was bestowed by the inhabitants of Yale in honour of my Aunt's visit, the said inscription being saluted from the opposite bank, by dipping a flag (the Union Jack) three times." 11
The geography of the entrance to the Fraser Canyon, which is Lady Franklin Rock, is such that the hanging the banner was an oppressive feat.
"Safely back at Yale, they entered a shop so that Lady Franklin could buy each of the paddlers a gay cotton handkerchief "and they were also to have a good feast of bread, well smeared with treacle (molasses)." 12
Lady Jane and Miss Cracroft left Yale later that same day. It is not really known if she actually had carpenters with her, or if she donated money for the Royal Engineers to build the church pews and fine chair. It is more probably the latter, as, though she must have had some kind of an entourage with her, it is unlikely that she had her own carpenters along on a tour by the Royal Engineers.
A Brief History of Lord & Lady Franklin
Sir John Franklin (1786-1847), born in Lincolnshire, he was educated at St. Ives & Louth Grammar School before entering the British Navy. He rose to the rank of rear admiral, and later became a renowned, though ultimately unsuccessful Arctic explorer. In 1836, accompanied by his second wife, Lady Jane Franklin, he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land, now known as Tasmania, and held his post there until 1843. At his wife's urging, he embarked on his last Arctic voyage in 1846, and was lost there. Though it was later proven that he had died in 1847, confirmation of his death was not found until 1858. During that time Lady Franklin was involved in her relentless lobbying and fundraising to mount searches for her husband.
Lady Jane Griffin Franklin (1791-1875), was born in London, the daughter of John Griffin, a silk weaver, and Mary Guillemard. In 1828 she married John Franklin, becoming his second wife. She also became a world traveler, touring far more miles than her husband ever did. She traveled the world while he was on the Arctic expeditions, during his long disappearance, and after she received word of his death.
Lady Jane had several options open to her as a young single woman. She could have married Peter Mark Roget, creator of Roget's Thesaurus. It is said that he broke her heart when he married another. 13
Captain John Franklin was first married to Eleanor Anne Porden 14 in 1823, 15 the daughter of an architect who came from a long line of architects. Eleanor was a published poetess, 16 and also a strong-minded woman, with confidence in herself, though housed in a frail, sickly body. Indeed, it was one of her poems that prompted Franklin to request a meeting with her. 17 They had one daughter, Eleanor, in 1824, and less than a year later, six days after John had sailed for the Arctic on another expedition, Mrs. Eleanor Franklin passed away from tuberculosis. 18
Before her death, Eleanor had hosted a small dinner party for her and John's closest acquaintances, which included her worthy friend, Miss Jane Griffin. Jane met several explorers there, including Lt. William Edward Parry, George Francis Lyon, and John Barrow, Jr. Jane was most impressed with Parry, though nothing but a very good friendship came of it. Franklin also remembered Jane with fondness.
After his wife's death, and following his latest Arctic expedition, Franklin returned to England. He renewed his friendship with his wife's friend Jane Griffin, and they fell in love. They married in 1828, and Jane raised his daughter. Little Eleanor grew up and married the Reverend Phillip Gell. The Gells later were very much in opposition to Jane's continuous spending on the fruitless searches for Franklin, as she was spending what Eleanor considered inheritance from her mother's estate. These arguments eventually went to the lawyers and the courts; with the Gells winning.
Before closing, some mention must be made of Lord and Lady Franklin's term in Van Diemen's Land. These were the most troublesome times of their lives; Franklin received opposition to his authority on all sides from the bureaucrats of the present regime, and the society ladies were shocked at the forward will of Lady Franklin. John was forced to fire one of his employees, Alexander MacConochie in 1838. MacConochie wrote terrible letters against Franklin, and somehow discredited him when he arrived back in England after MacConochie's banishment . Lady Franklin built beautiful gardens and structures, including a small Greek Parthenon, that stands to this day; 19 but was ridiculed for such policies as her bounty on snakes. She hated snakes, and attempted to rid the Island of them; but they were so numerous that it became unaffordable to continue paying the bounty.
Lady Jane Franklin, at age 83, passed away in 1875, two months after the sailing of the expedition that would bring back the final proof of her husband's fate; some journals and many artifacts from the fateful trip. She did not even live to see the monument erected in Franklin's honour that she had commissioned.
"It was unveiled in Westminster Abbey a fortnight after her death. It was, as the inscription said, "erected by Jane, his widow, who, after long waiting, and sending many in search of him, herself departed to seek and find him in the realms of light." 20
1 © Public Domain "Portrait of Jane: A Life of Lady Franklin (Age 24);" Frances J. Woodward. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1951, Source: National Library of Canada http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/explorers/kids/h3-150.12-e.html
2 Eleanor Porden Franklin, 1st wife of Lord Franklin, and friend of 2nd wife Jane Griffin Franklin
3 Lady Franklin's Pass, at Yale on the Fraser River Canyon
4 A&E's BioLibrary, interview with Pierre Burton on "The Arctic Grail", aired February 15th, 2004
5 May 19th, 1845
6 Miss Cracroft is the biographer of their travels
7 Beth Hill, "The Sappers", Horsdal & Schubart, pp. 81-95
8 'The Falls' or 'The Rapids' were the terms applied to Lady Franklin Pass before it's official naming
9 The Cariboo Waggon Road
10 Sophie Cracroft Journal; Beth Hill, "The Sappers", Horsdal & Schubart, pp. 81-95
11 Sophie Cracroft Journal; Beth Hill, "The Sappers", Horsdal & Schubart, pp. 81-95
12 Beth Hill, "The Sappers", Horsdal & Schubart, pp. 81-95
13 Pierre Burton, "The Arctic Grail", McClelland & Stewart, 1988, Penguin Books reprint 1989, pp 121-125
14 1798 - April 16, 1825
15 August 19, 1823
16 Eleanor Porden Franklin, "Cour de Lion", two volumes in sixteen cantos
17 See poem at top of page, "Sail, Sail…" Eleanor Porden Franklin, 1st wife of Lord Franklin
18 April 16, 1825
19 Lady Franklin has a school and various hotels and business named in her memory in Tasmania
20 Pierre Burton, "The Arctic Grail", McClelland & Stewart, 1988, Penguin Books reprint 1989, page 429
4
Lady Franklin Rock on the Fraser River at Yale1986
Yale B.C.
5
Lord and Lady DufferinGovernor-General of Canada from 1872-1878
Frederick Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Earl of Dufferin, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava.
1826 – 1902
Hariot Georgina Rowan Hamilton
184? – 1936
We will later give a brief history of this important couple, but in this article will mainly focus on their time spent in Yale and the Fraser Canyon.
Lord Dufferin was appointed Governor-General of Canada in 1872, and held that position until 1878. During his term he made a point of visiting every province and territory in Canada. He visited Yale, BC in 1876. Lady Dufferin traveled with him on most of his trips.
There was much excitement and preparation for the visit of Lord and Lady Dufferin. A special coach was built in San Francisco for their tour, and the best driver was selected. This driver was Stephen Tingley, who was part owner of the British Columbia Express Co. (BX)
The Dufferin Coach was an elaborate red coach and six (meaning six horses),(1) It was very likely the nicest one in B.C. at the time. The finest matched horses were chosen for the tour, and altogether the outfit made an impressive sight. The restored coach is now on display at the New Westminster City Museum and Archives.
The Dufferins took a sternwheeler from New Westminster to Yale, where they were treated to a fine dinner hosted by the Oppenhiemer(2) family, the most prominent merchants in Yale at the time. The following morning they boarded the coach for their tour through the Fraser Canyon.
The trip is best described in Lady Dufferin's own words:
"The scenery of the Fraser is lovely. I am quite tired of writing this, and it is impossible to convey an idea of the luxe of beautiful views there is in this country. Until we reached Yale the only event of the day was to be called out to see some magnificent one. We stopped a few minutes at Hope, a charming little place, and got to our destination – Yale – in the afternoon. A coach-and-six (in which we travel for a week) took us up to Mr. Oppenhiem's house, where we are to sleep. On the way we stopped to receive a Chinese address, written on pink paper, and an Indian one. The decorations were wonderful for such a small place; the most original being a live horse, which was placed in the way, with a cloth over it, on which was written, ‘Good, but not iron', in allusion to the celebrated railway.
"The Oppenhiems had a banquet for us, cooked by a Frenchman from Victoria – very good, but so plentiful that Nowell managed to suppress some dishes behind the scenes.
"Mrs. Oppenhiem, though French, is like a motherly English woman, and I liked her very much. They have a very nice house and no children, but have a nephew living with them, and I was so surprised when I asked her what profession the young man was; she said "a blacksmith". He did not dine with us, but with the servants, who did not know who he was until my maid discovered his photograph hung up in my bedroom." (3)
Their Fraser Canyon tour began the following day.
"After breakfast we started on our journey. Unfortunately, it rained on and off all day, but except that the views would, most of them, be prettier in sunshine, the wet was not sufficient to damp our enjoyment. Just before leaving, an Indian woman brought me a pin made of a gold nugget.
"We set off in a large carriage, which held six inside and three on the box; the servants had gone before us, and D. and I, the Commodore, the Chief Justice [Begbie], the Colonel and the Freds, went in this coach, drawn by four horses. We had fourty-four miles to drive, and the road is a wonderful piece of engineering: a wall of rock on one side, and a great precipice upon the other, almost the whole way, with every now and then a sharp turn round some fearful bluff, where, looking forward, the road seemed to end, and there was nothing but the river to be seen, a hundred feet below.
"It was very curious to see the little Indian fishing establishments along the way. Wherever there was a rock rising a little above the water, there you were sure to see a scaffolding, upon which were hung rows and rows of dried fish, and near it a sort of springboard jutting out into the water, upon which a man stood over the stream, and dipped a net, shaped like a snow-shoe, into it; we saw one man bring up a large trout [salmon], and cheered him from the carriage. Another curious thing we saw was a sort of house in which the Indians winter. A large hole is cut in the ground, and covered over with a round roof; in the top of this there is a hole, through which a notched pole is stuck, and by this the people go down – and through it the smoke comes up.(4)
"We lunched at a place called Boston Bar, and D. took several portraits of Indians there. They were a different type from those we have seen before; instead of very fat faces, they have thin ones, and large, but not coarse, mouths." (5)
Lady Dufferin goes on to describe the beautiful mountain views, and a previous stop at Hell's Gate. She was very impressed when arriving at the well set-up camp with spacious dining and sleeping tents. She describes being met near Lytton by "a great assembly" of native people near the church there. "There were about 500, of whom 200 men and women were on horseback; numbers of foals were following, and the neighing and excitement among the horses was as great as that among the men." (6)
She was amazed at the colour and variety of the native dress, and described them in detail. The missionary read an address, and "God Save the Queen" was sung in N'Laka'pamux language. At Lytton Lord Dufferin ordered beef and flour as a gift to the people, who followed the travelers for several miles. "You can't think what a pretty sight it was! We were two large coaches-and-four, and a great procession of these curious riders, talking and laughing, following after us." (7)
Lady Dufferin's description of the rest of the journey is full of colour and new sights. She recounts other meetings with mounted groups of N'Laka'pamux(8) people, and describes a native grave house. The party spent the night with the Cornwall family(9), possibly in Spences Bridge or Ashcroft.
From September 9th to 11th, the party journeyed to Kamloops, partly by sternwheeler, and returned to meet their coach at Savona's Ferry for the return trip.
"We embarked at noon in our coach, and parted with the Chief Justice at Cache Creek, on his way to Cariboo. I then got on the box (or fore-top, as we call it, having just come from the Amethyst [the sternwheeler]) to see Mr. Tingley drive; this was an easy part of the road, so I thought it a good place to take the front seat. We got to Mr. Cornwall's at six, and all dined there. D. and I remaining to sleep. We had a most lovely day." (10)
The following day they caught up with the second coach at Lytton, and she commented that some of the passengers were feeling the heat. Lytton is the hottest place in British Columbia. In the afternoon "I again got on the box, and drove over the worst piece of the road – such awful turns, and such a precipice at the edge of the narrow road!" (11) This was probably Jackass Mountain, between Lytton and Boston Bar.
They camped somewhere in the canyon overlooking the river. Sept.13th was the final day of their Fraser Canyon tour.
"I got up at six to look out at a curious effect of the fog. We are about 800 feet above the river. The morning was bright and lovely, all the mountains clear, and an extensive view lay before me; but when I looked down at the Fraser, instead of its muddy stream, I beheld a beautiful river of soft cloud! This layer of fog must have been 200 or 300 feet thick, as we could tell by the trees on the banks, and it was the prettiest thing I ever saw in the way of mist.
"We had a very successful journey back to Yale, and D. and I sat on the box for the last hour of the way. The driver and all the Yaleites were delighted that we had enjoyed the trip, and were not frightened; and the coachman's testimony to my courage during the perilous drive to Kamloops was ‘that I hadn't a scare in me'. We drove down to the steamer ‘Royal City,' and had the Oppenhiems to dine with us." (12)
Thus ended the journey of Lord & Lady Dufferin through the Fraser and Thompson Canyons. The Lady's diary is a wonderful time capsule capturing the beauty and danger of the Cariboo Waggon Road. They went on to tour Victoria, San Francisco and Salt Lake City before returning home to Ottawa through St. Louis, Missouri.
Lord Dufferin was born in 1826 in Florence, Italy, to Baron Dufferin of Ireland. He attended the Eton and Oxford Schools. He distinguished himself in the service of the British Commonwealth, in many roles around the world. He married Hariot Georgina Rowan Hamilton in 1862.(13)
He was appointed Governor-General of Canada in 1872, and did many great things for Canada. He promoted Canadian unity, traveling extensively around the country. "As an orator and writer, Lord Dufferin also closely followed political debate in Parliament, although as Governor General he was not permitted inside the House of Commons. Instead, Lady Dufferin often attended the debates and reported back to him. He did, however, establish an office of the Governor General in the east wing of the Parliament buildings." (14)
He established the Governor-General's Academic Medals for superior academic achievement by Canadian students, the Governor-General's Match for shooting, and the Governor-General's Curling Trophy for the Royal Caledonian Curling Club. He upgraded Rideau Hall, adding the Ballroom, the Tent Room, a skating rink, curling rink and toboggan slide; and the Dome Building.
The Dufferins were the first to use La Citadelle in Quebec City as a second vice-regal residence. He convinced Quebec City to save the walls of the Old City when they were about to be torn down. In recognition of his contributions in Quebec, Lord Dufferin's last public event was to lay the foundation stone for Dufferin Terrace.(15) During a trip to Manitoba(16) Lord and Lady Dufferin each drove a spike in the line of what would become the Canadian Pacific Railway.(17)
After leaving Canada Lord Dufferin had many more ambassadorial postings all over the British Commonwealth; see list below. The couple retired in 1896 to their Irish home in Clandeboye. Lord Dufferin died in 1902, and the Lady in 1936.
Lord Dufferin held many titles and positions:
5th Baron Dufferin in the peerage of Ireland
Lord-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria
Baron Clandeboye, of Clandeboye, County Down, in the peerage of the United Kingdom
Commissioner to Syria
Under-Secretary for India
Under-Secretary of War within the British Government
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
1st Earl of Dufferin, County Down
Viscount Clandeboye, of Clandeboye, County Down.
Governor-General of Canada
Ambassador to Russia
Ambassador to Turkey
Viceroy of India
Ambassador to Italy
Ambassador to France
Marquessate of Dufferin and Ava
Earldom of Ava, in County Down and in Burma 18
1 Recorded as a coach-and-six, but later referred to by Lady Dufferin as a coach-and-four. Perhaps this was the safest number of horses for navigating the treacherous Fraser Canyon.
2 Referred to by Lady Dufferin as the Oppenhiems
3 Marchioness of Dufferin & Ava, "My Canadian Journal – 1872-1878"; ©1891, Coles Pub. Co. 1971, page 273, Wednesday Sept. 6th, 1876
4 Description of a keekwilly, or N'Laka'pamux pit house
5 Marchioness of Dufferin & Ava, "My Canadian Journal – 1872-1878"; ©1891, Coles Pub. Co. 1971pp. 273-275, Thursday Sept. 7th, 1876
6 Marchioness of Dufferin & Ava, "My Canadian Journal – 1872-1878"; ©1891, Coles Pub. Co. 1971, page 276, Friday Sept. 8th, 1876
7 Ibid
8 Formerly referred to as ‘Thompson' people
9 Mr. Cornwall was not there, he had fallen over a precipice and broken a leg on his way to visit with them, and had to be transported to Victoria for surgery.
10 Marchioness of Dufferin & Ava, "My Canadian Journal – 1872-1878"; ©1891, Coles Pub. Co. 1971, page 281, Monday Sept. 11th, 1876
11 Ibid, page 282, Tuesday Sept. 12th, 1876
12 Marchioness of Dufferin & Ava, "My Canadian Journal – 1872-1878"; ©1891, Coles Pub. Co. 1971, page 282, Wednesday Sept. 13th, 1876
13 October 23, 1862
14 http://www.gg.ca/governor_general/history/bios/dufferin_e.asp
15 http://www.gg.ca/governor_general/history/bios/dufferin_e.asp
16 September 1877
17 http://www.gg.ca/governor_general/history/bios/dufferin_e.asp
18 Ibid
6
The Duke and Duchess of York visiting All Hallows in the West1901
All Hallows in the West, Yale, B.C.
7
The Duke and Duchess of YorkA Lingering Distinction
The Duke and Duchess of York and Cornwall possessed a bearing so great that the ghost of an hour long visit 103 years ago still lingers in the site of the long-vanished All Hallows in the West.
The visiting royals stepped from their train onto the red carpet that led up to the school into an archway decorated with flowers and red maple leaves. The girls of All Hallows were done up in their best school uniforms: the students of the "Indian School" wore navy blue dresses with their bright red 'pinnies' 1 over top; and the girls of the "Canadian School" were clad in snowy white dresses tied at the waist with violet sashes. 2
The students sang a song of welcome composed by Sister Amy, Superior for the occasion. The Duke and Duchess signed the guest book and congratulated the Sisters on their school and the manners of their pupils. They graciously accepted the gifts from the children; a hand woven aboriginal coiled cedar-root basket filled with yellow plums from the Native children; and a bound copy of All Hallows in the West publication, tied prettily with violet ribbon.
The hour was over much too soon, and the Royal couple had to depart. Yale had been visited by not only gentry, but the future King and Queen of England.
What prompted their decision to stop at All Hallows was in connection to their Sandringham Estate in England -- but the story behind their accession to the throne is filled with a much greater depth of intrigue. Although both from landed gentry families, the Duke's royal family was far superior to that of the Duchess and how they came to be married was through expectations and arrangements, not through love or devotion, although their union did become known for this.
George was the second son of to the heir to the English throne Prince Albert Edward and his wife, Princess Alexandra of Denmark. The first born, Albert Victor, or 'Eddy' was second in line to the throne next to his father. But, Eddy had problems, he was deaf and this made education difficult, in addition he had a more artistic rather than academic bend to him. It was these complications with Eddy that the parents chose quiet, steady Mary as his future wife. But, Eddy passed away suddenly shortly before the marriage and after much contemplation it was decided that Mary would do just as well for George.
In George's manner he possessed the ideal qualities to become England's future king and agreed to wed Mary, whom he hardly knew. But the marriage turned out to be a good match, for "in the Duke and Duchess of York there was a genuine love match. Indeed the couple were so devoted that they could not bear to spend a day apart; whenever they were separate, they wrote to each other several times a day." 3 They were married in 1893 4 and had six children together.
His father became King in 1901 5 and George and Mary became the Duke of Cornwall and York. The titles were passed to the heirs upon his father's death in 1910 6 and George succeeded to the throne. The royal couple saw England through the First World War and dealt with a number of tense situations originating from the close family connections that many held with German relations. The war with Germany caused King George V 7 to change the British Royal House to the House of Windsor from the German sounding House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.
But, in 1901, as they stepped off the train on a bright fall day with a light breeze blowing off the mighty Fraser, the children's voice raised in song and in possession of hand-crafted gifts from the girls, chosen with care and presented with anxiety, thoughts of war and the resulting situations were far from the royal couple's minds. They were in line for the crown, George's father had just taken over the throne and they were in love with life and one another.
Perhaps this idealistic situation stayed with them, or the people, for by the time of King George V's death he had become a well loved and respected monarch. Mary saw her son King George VI succeed to the throne, her country through another devastating world war, and her eldest granddaughter, Elizabeth II's succession to the throne following the death of her son. Mary passed away in 1953 in London. 8 She is buried next to her husband in St. George's Chapel, Windsor.
In King George V and Queen Mary they possessed a regal presence that refuses to fade. They ruled the United Kingdom and all that she represented with pride and dignity for over 25 years and their contribution will not be forgotten.
1 Pinafores, or apron like overdresses
2 The violet colour was in honour of Bishop Sillitoe's wife, Violet.
3 "George V of the United kingdom" Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Internet: http://enwikpedia.org/wikil/George_V_of the_united_kingdom.
4 June 6, 1893
5 January 22, 1901
6 May 6, 1910
7 V
8 March 23, 1953
8
A royal gift to Miss Mary Ellen Stout1882
Yale B.C.
9
Princess Louisa and Canada's Governor-General, the Marquis of LorneServed in Canada from 1878 to 1883
Visited Yale in 1882
The first time I heard about the royal visit of 1882 was when I was interviewing the Barry family about their history, especially of their ancestor, Ned Stout.
Bruce Barry brought out a wonderful artifact while I was there. It is a children's book given to his great-grandmother during a visit by Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Louisa, and the Governor-General. The book is called "Papa's Little Daughters" by Mrs. Mary D. Brine, Cassell, Petter & Gilpin, 1882. The inscription reads "To Miss Mary Stout, from Governor-General and the Princess."
Although there is little online about them, the Princess & the Marquis had a great influence on Canada, Britain, and the political and literary worlds.
Though I can find only a few snippets about their visit to Yale, apparently an archway was constructed in their honour, and they were the guests of Andrew & Delia Onderdonk, of CPR construction fame.
Written by Irene Bjerky
More research must be done about their visit here, but until then, I will include below a very well-researched article pertaining to their biographies, written by the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, and available online at:
http://www.assembly.ab.ca/lao/library/louise/notes.htm
Princess Louise was christened Louisa Caroline Alberta: "Louisa" after both of her grand mothers and the second wife of Queen Victoria's uncle, King Leopold of the Belgiums; "Caroline" after Prince Albert's own grandmother and "Alberta" after the Prince himself. Although christened "Louisa," Princess Louise was always known as "Louise."
Princess Louise's mother was Victoria Regina I, Queen of the United Kingdom and Ireland and Empress of India. Queen Victoria was born at Kensington Palace, London, on May 24, 1819, and died at Osborne House, Isle of Wight, on January 22, 1901. She was the only child of Edward, Duke of Kent, the fourth son of George III and Princess Mary Louisa Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. She was christened Alexandrina Victoria and her reign (1837-1901) is the longest in English history. Queen Victoria is credited with restoring dignity and popularity to the British Crown. She was also noted for her devotion to duty, honesty, and lack of affectation.
Princess Louise's father was Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Prince Consort of Queen Victoria. Prince Albert was born near Coburg, Bavaria, on August 26, 1819, and died at Windsor Castle, England, on December 14, 1861. He was the second son of Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, and Louise, the heiress of Saxe-Gotha. Following his marriage to Queen Victoria on February 10, 1840, he became, in effect, her private secretary and chief confidential advisor. During his lifetime, he was unpopular with the British. However, following his death, at age forty-two, many of his valuable contributions were recognized. Prince Albert was known for his moral outlook, professional manner, and good taste.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were devoted to each other and were very conscientious parents. Unlike many aristocrats of their time, they had a very close relationship with all of their children.
Princess Louise married John Campbell, the Marquis of Lorne, on March 21, 1871.
John George Edward Henry Sutherland Campbell was born at Stafford House, London, on August 8, 1845. He was the son of George Douglas Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll, and Lady Elizabeth Leveson-Gower, eldest daughter of the 2nd Duke of Sutherland. The Campbell family was the most powerful of the highland clans of Scotland and their family seat was, and still is, located at Inveraray.
The Marquis of Lorne was educated at the Edinburgh Academy, Eton College, and St. Andrews and Cambridge universities. Following the completion of his education, he entered politics and served as the Member of Parliament (Liberal) for Argyllshire, Scotland, from 1868 to 1878. From 1868 to 1871, he also acted as personal secretary to his father who was then serving as Secretary of State for India
By the standards of the time, the Marquis of Lorne was considered good-looking. He was fair and had blue eyes. As well, he had a pleasing personality and is described as being amiable, enthusiastic, and temperate in all of his habits.
Following his marriage to Princess Louise in 1871, he served as Governor General of Canada from 1878 to 1883. It is generally acknowledged that he asserted himself well during his term of office. In this regard, the July 7, 1883, edition of the Edmonton Bulletin noted: "He had no blarney to offer, and his talents were not of the glittering kind which awaken popular enthusiasm. He merely attended to his business thoroughly and left that of others alone."
After his return to Britain, he reentered politics. After being defeated as the Liberal candidate for Hampstead in 1885, he was eventually elected Member of Parliament (Liberal-Unionist) for South Manchester and served in that capacity from 1895 to 1900. He then succeeded his father as the 9th Duke of Argyll in 1900, was elevated to the House of Lords, and given the title Lord Sundridge.
The Marquis of Lorne was a Knight of the Thistle (1873), a Knight of the Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George (1878), and Governor and Constable of Her Majesty's Castle of Windsor (1892).
As noted in the text of this book, he possessed considerable literary ability. A partial list of his works follows:
The Adventures of John Pas-Plus. New York: J.W. Lovell Company [1891]. 191 pages.
Canadian Life and Scenery, With Hints to Intending Immigrants and Settlers. London: Religious Tract Society, 1886. 191 pages.
The Canadian North-west: Speech Delivered at Winnipeg by His Excellency the Marquis of Lorne, Governor General of Canada, After His Tour Through Manitoba and the North-west, During the Summer of 1881 . . . Ottawa, 1881. 22 pages.
Canadian Pictures, Drawn With Pen and Pencil. London: The Religious Tract Society [1885]. 224 pages.
From Shadow to Sunlight. New York: Appleton and Company, 1891.
Guido and Lita: a Tale of the Riviera. London: Macmillan and Company, 1875. 124 pages.
Imperial Federation. London: S. Sonnenschein and Company, 1890. 142 pages.
Intimate Letters of the Eighteenth Century. New York: John Lane Company, 1910. 2 volumes.
Memories of Canada & Scotland. London: Marston, Searle and Rivington, 1883. 360 pages.
This book contains a number of poems that should be of particular interest to Albertans. Their titles are "The Blackfeet," "Cree Fairies," "On the New Province of'Alberta'," "The Prairie Roses," "The Song of the Six Sisters," and "Westward Ho!"
Our Railway to the Pacific. London: Ibister and Company, Limited, 1886. 32 pages.
This book was illustrated by Princess Louise.
Passages from the Past. London: Hutchinson and Company, 1907. 2 volumes.
This book contains the Marquis of Lorne's "Diarmid" excluding the musical score.
A Trip to the Tropics and Home Through America. London: Hurst and Blackett, 1867.335 pages.
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Dedication to Mary Ellen Stout from Princess Louisa and Governor General of Canada, Marquis of Lorne1882
Yale B.C.
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