Duke of Connaught

This website is dedicated to a royal prince who served the monarchy and Canada with loyal devotion throughout his long life. The website features an extensive collection of postcards and memorabilia from the private collection of Scott Burke of Nova Scotia, Canada.

His Royal Highness Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn and Earl of Sussex was born on May 1st, 1850 at Buckingham Palace. He was the third son and seventh child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

After graduating from the Royal Military College in 1868, he was was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Corps of Royal Engineers. He later served with the Royal Regiment of Artillery and the Rifle Brigade. Throughout his life, Prince Arthur had a distinguished career in the military, later earning the rank (in 1902) of a Field-Marshal, and holding various ranks including as Commander-in-Chief of Ireland from 1900 to 1904, and Inspector-General of the Forces from 1904 to 1907.

From the fall of 1911 to the fall of 1916, Prince Arthur served as Governor General of Canada after having been appointed by his nephew and confidant, King George V.

His family life was a happy one, in 1879 he married Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia and they went on to have three children, Princess Margaret of Connaught (who became the Crown Princess of Sweden), Prince Arthur of Connaught (who served as Governor General of the Union of South Africa) and Princess Patricia of Connaught (who after her marriage was known as Lady Patricia Ramsay.)

The family resided at Clarence House in London (now the home of Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall) and at Bagshot Park in Surrey (now the home of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.) During Prince Arthur's term as Governor General of Canada, Prince Arthur and his wife and youngest daughter resided at Government House (known as Rideau Hall) in Ottawa, Ontario.

Prince Arthur lived a long life and died in 1942 at the grand age of 91.