1921 Autograph of Lord Lansdowne, Gov. Gen. of Canada & Viceroy of India, With Accompanying Letter

On offer is an autograph of Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne, on page of Bowood House stationary from Calne, Wiltshire.

Additionally is an accompanying typed and signed letter from Lansdowne’s secretary Marcus Dawkins, replying to a request for the Lord’s autograph, dated September 22, 1921 in London [England].

Lord Lansdowne was Governor General during turbulent times in Canada. Sir John A. Macdonald's government was in its second term and facing allegations of scandal over the building of the railway (the Pacific scandal), and the economy was once again sliding into recession. The North-West Rebellion of 1885 and the controversy of its leader, Louis Riel, posed a serious threat to the stability of Canada. Yet Lord Lansdowne took the opportunity to travel extensively throughout western Canada in 1885, meeting many of Canada's First Nations peoples. While the railway to British Columbia was not completed, this did not stop the Governor General from travelling throughout the Rockies on horseback and by boat. On his second trip out west, Lord Lansdowne took the new Canadian Pacific Railway, and was the first Governor General to use the line all the way out west.

His experiences in western Canada gave Lansdowne a great love of the Canadian outdoors and the physical beauty of Canada. He was an avid salmon fisherman, and was also intently interested in winter sports. His love of the wilderness and Canadian countryside led him to purchase a second residence on the Cascapédia River in Quebec. It was with the issue of fishing rights between the United States and Canada that Lansdowne proved himself as an adept statesman, helping to negotiate a peaceful settlement to a potentially serious dispute between both countries.

Lord Lansdowne departed Canada with a true appreciation of the beauty of the wilderness and an equal appreciation of the diversity of Canadian society. He went on to serve as Viceroy of India from 1888-1894. He further held a variety of prominent positions in his career but in 1917 he published the controversial ‘Lansdowne letter’, and was criticized as acting contrary to cabinet policy. He died at the age of 82 in 1927.

Bowood is a Grade I listed Georgian country house in Wiltshire, England, that has been owned for more than 250 years by the Fitzmaurice family. Since 1754 the estate has been the seat of the Earls of Shelburne, created Marquess of Lansdowne in 1784.

This item consists of the signature page (5 x 8 inches), and the letter 4-¾ x 8 inches), each pasted onto a binder card measuring 8-½ x 11 inches, and is labeled below. Date of mounting is unknown. All demonstrate age toning and are in Very Good condition.