He was born in Florence, Italy, and his name was Frederick Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood. In addition to being the Earl of Dufferin, he was the 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava.
The years between 1872 and 1878, when Lord Dufferin was governor general, were formative for Canada. During this period the nation admitted the province of Prince Edward Island to Confederation.
As well, the young nation founded the Supreme Court of Canada, and The Royal Military College, located in Kingston. The Intercolonial Railway was also established.
A fluently bilingual writer and orator, Lord Dufferin took an interest in the proceedings of Parliament. As Governor General, he was not permitted in the House of Commons, but Lady Dufferin was free to attend, and he frequently had her report back what she'd heard. He also established an office in the east wing of the Parliament Buildings.
Lord Dufferin established the Governor General's Academic Medal in 1873, and this is still given out annually in high schools and post-secondary institutions.
He also established a trophy for curling, and soon afterwards, the Ontario Branch of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club. In response to the increasing numbers of social functions, the Ballroom and the Tent Room were added to the governor general's residence at Rideau Hall, and Lady Dufferin took up her entertaining duties with a will.
The Dufferins were the first to use La Citadelle as a second Vice-Regal residence, and Lord Dufferin spoke against taking down the garrison walls of old Quebec, an idea that was being floated at the time.
Like many governors general who followed him, Lord Dufferin was an alumnus of Eton and Oxford. He was a Lord-in-waiting to Queen Victoria, and was made Lord Clandeboye of County Down, Ireland, and served the British government as Under-secretary of War just before Canadian Confederation.
Before coming to Canada, he served as Commissioner to Syria, and after finishing his term here, he returned to England to serve as a diplomat. He was Ambassador in turn to Russia, Turkey, Italy and France, and in between held the post of Viceroy of India.
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