The Duke of Connaught

The Duke of Connaught

   

 

The 1st Duke of Connaught and Strathearn

The third and last surviving son of Queen Victoria, H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn was born on May 1st, 1850 on the 81st birthday of the Duke of Wellington, one of his godfathers from whom he took his first name, Arthur.

Arthur was named Duke of Connaught in 1874 or more precicely, ” the 1st Duke of Connaught and Strathern.”

The Duke was no stranger to Canada. He served with the Royal Marines in Montreal in 1870 and took part in the suppression of the Red river uprising of that year. Port Arthur, Ontario was named in his honour and in 1890, he travelled across Canada on his return journey from India.

When the Duke of Connaught took office as Canada’s tenth Governor General in 1911, he became the first member of the Royal House to occupy that post which he faithfully served until 1916.

The Duke of Connaught was a dedicated Freemason and served as Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England from 1901 to 1939

Our Lodge was named after the Duke of Connaught in honour of his official visit to Canada in 1912 as Governor General.