Following his tenure as the Canadian viceroy, Cavendish returned to political and diplomatic life, serving as Secretary of State for the Colonies between 1922 and 1924, before retiring to his estate in Derbyshire, where he died on 6 May 1938.
It was announced on 8 August 1916 that King George V had, by commission under the royal sign-manual and signet, approved the recommendation of his British Prime Minister, H.H. Asquith, to appoint Cavendish as his representative. The appointment caused political problems as Canadian Prime MinisterRobert Borden had not been consulted on the matter, contrary to practice well established by that time. Borden thus felt insulted, which led to considerable difficulties at the beginning of Cavendish's tenure, officially beginning after he was on 11 November 1916 sworn in during a ceremony held in Halifax.[3]
In that era, there was social unrest in the country. Not only was the women's suffrage movement gaining momentum in Canada and calls were coming out of the prairies for socialist changes to the governmental system, but continued to rage around the world. Canada was providing troops and supplies, and Cavendish, shortly after his installation, and on the advice of Borden, introduced conscription, a decision that was particularly divisive between French and English Canadians and sparked the Conscription Crisis of 1917. In the same year, the Governor General also travelled to Nova Scotia to survey the damage caused by the Halifax Explosion on 6 December; there he met with survivors and addressed the women of the Voluntary Aid Detachment.[6]
The Canadian victory in 1917 at Vimy Ridge, however, helped fuel Canadian pride and nationalism at home and the Governor General, while conscious of his role's remaining connection to the British government, used this military win to positively and publicly encourage reconciliation between Canada's two main linguistic groups. At all times, Cavendish was careful to consult with his prime minister and the leaders of His Majesty's Loyal Opposition in Canada on matters related to conscription and the war effort.[3]
Cavendish took interest in the lives of Canadians, and conducted various tours of the country to meet with them. As a land owner himself, the Governor General was particularly focused on the development of farming in Canada and during his travels,[2] at agricultural and horticultural fairs, shows, and sugaring-off parties in the Gatineau, discussed agricultural issues with farmers and other people in the industry. His speeches often referred to Canada's potential to lead the world in agricultural research and development, and one of his major projects while viceroy was to establish experimental farms, including the Crown's central one in Ottawa. At the same time, Cavendish acted as a patron of the arts; when not on tour or residing at La Citadelle – the viceregal residence in Quebec City at which the Duke enjoyed spending time – Cavendish was frequently visiting the National Gallery and hosting theatrical performances at Rideau Hall. There, on the grounds of the royal residence, during the winters, the Cavendishes also hosted tobogganing and skating parties, as well as hockey matches. Officially, Cavendish in 1918 travelled to the United States to meet informally with PresidentWoodrow Wilson and, the following year, hosted Prince Edward, Prince of Wales, during his first tour of Canada.[3]
By the end of his tenure as governor general, Cavendish had overcome all of the initial suspicions that had surrounded his appointment; both men who served as his Canadian prime minister – Borden and Arthur Meighen – came to view him as a personal friend not only of theirs, but also of Canada's. The former said of Cavendish: "No Governor General has come with a more comprehensive grasp of public questions as they touch not only this country and the United Kingdom, but the whole Empire."[3] The Duke left as a mark of his time in Canada the Devonshire Cup, for the annual golf competition of the Canadian Seniors Golf Association,[7] and the Duke of Devonshire Trophy, for the Ottawa Horticultural Society. For Cavendish, Canada left with his family the two aides-de-camp who married his daughters while the family resided in Ottawa.
On returning to England, Devonshire worked at the League of Nations before serving from 1922 to 1924 as Secretary of State for the Colonies (with a seat in the British Cabinet) under Prime Ministers Andrew Bonar Law and Stanley Baldwin.[8] In 1922, he was also appointed by King George V to the committee that was charged with looking into how honours were to be bestowed in the United Kingdom.[9] He simultaneously continued to run his agricultural land holdings, especially around Chatsworth House, where he died in May 1938.
3 May 1868 – 11 December 1905: Mister Victor Cavendish
11 December 1905 – 24 March 1908: The Right Honourable Victor Cavendish
24 March 1908 – 11 November 1916: His Grace the Duke of Devonshire
11 November 1916 – 19 September 1918: His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of the Militia and Naval Forces of Canada
19 September 1918 – 2 August 1921: His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of the Militia and Naval and Air Forces of Canada
2 August 1921 – 6 May 1938: His Grace the Duke of Devonshire
Cavendish's style and title as governor general was, in full, and in English: His Excellency the Most Noble Sir Victor Christian William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire, Marquess of Hartington, Earl of Burlington, Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Justice of the Peace, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of the Militia and Naval and Air Forces of Canada, and in French: Son Excellence le très Noble Sir Victor Christian William Cavendish, duc de Devonshire, marquess de Hartington, comte de Burlington, chevalier de le nobilissime ordre de la Jarretière, chevalier grand-croix de le très distingué ordre de Saint-Michel et Saint-George, chevalier grand-croix de l'ordre royal de Victoria, Justice de paix, gouverneur générale et commandant en chef de la milice et les forces navales et aérienne du Canada.
In his post-viceregal life, Alexander's style and title was: His Grace The Most Noble Sir Victor Christian William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire, Marquess of Hartington, Earl of Burlington, Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Justice of the Peace.
Cavendish's post-nominal letters are, in order according to the Oxford University Calendar Notes on Style:[10]KG, PC, GCMG, GCVO, JP, MA Cantab, LLD(hc) Alb