Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto

Gilbert John Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto, KG, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, PC (July 9, 1845 – March 1, 1914), known between 1859 and 1891 as Viscount Melgund, was an English politician, Governor General of Canada, and Viceroy of India.

Early life and career

After completing his education at Eton College and Cambridge University, he joined the Scots Guards in 1867. In 1874, in the capacity of a newspaper correspondent, he witnessed the operations of the Carlists in Spain; he took service with the Turkish army in the war with Russia in 1877 and served under Lord Roberts in the second Afghan War (1878 – 1879), having narrowly escaped accompanying Sir Louis Cavagnari Kabul.

Related Topics:
Eton College - Cambridge University - 1867 - 1874 - Carlists - Spain - Turkish - Russia - 1877 - Second Afghan War - 1878 - 1879

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He acted as private secretary to Lord Roberts during his mission to the Cape in 1881, and was with the army occupying Egypt in 1882, thus furthering his military career and his experience of colonial administration. He was military secretary to Lord Lansdowne during Lansdowne's governor-generalship of Canada from 1883 to 1885, and lived in Canada with his wife, Mary Caroline Grey, sister of Lord Grey, Governor General from 1904 to 1911, whom he had married in England on July 28, 1883. On this first Canadian visit, he was very active in raising a Canadian volunteer force to serve with the British Army in the Sudan Campaign of 1884. He served as Chief of Staff to General Middleton in the Riel Rebellion of 1885. When he was offered command of the North West Mounted Police, he decided instead to pursue a political career in England. On his departure home to England, Canadian Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald apparently said to him, "I shall not live to see it, but some day Canada will welcome you back as Governor General".

Related Topics:
Lord Roberts - Cape - 1881 - Egypt - 1882 - Lord Lansdowne - Canada - 1883 - 1885 - Lord Grey - 1904 - 1911 - July 28 - Sudan - 1884 - Riel Rebellion - North West Mounted Police - Sir John A. Macdonald

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His political aspirations were checked with his defeat in the 1886 general election. He then applied himself with great enthusiasm to promoting a volunteer army in Britain. He organized a volunteer peacetime auxiliary regiment of the British Army, the Border Mounted Rifles, which he soon turned into one of the most efficient regiments in England.

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