Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire

Victor Christian William Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire (31 May 1868 – 6 May 1938), known as Victor Cavendish until 1908, was a British peer and politician who served as Governor General of Canada.

A member of the Cavendish family, Victor Cavendish was the son of Lord Edward Cavendish and nephew of Spencer Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire. He was educated at Eton College and the University of Cambridge. After his father's death in 1891, he entered politics, winning his father's constituency unopposed. He held that seat until he inherited his uncle's dukedom in 1908. Thereafter, he took his place in the House of Lords, while, for a period at the same time, acting as mayor of Eastbourne and Chesterfield. He held various government posts both prior to and after his rise to the peerage. In 1916, King George V appointed him governor general of Canada on the recommendation of Prime Minister H. H. Asquith, replacing Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, as viceroy. He occupied that post until succeeded by Lord Byng of Vimy in 1921. The appointment was initially controversial, but by the time of his return to England, the Duke had earned praise for the way in which he carried out his official duties.

Following his tenure as governor general, Devonshire 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. He was the last Duke to hold a cabinet post.

The Duke of Devonshire was the father-in-law of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Harold Macmillan.