Marquis of Frederick Temple Blackwood Dufferin and Ava

Born in Florence on June 21, 1826, Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood became the 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava and built a reputation as one of the best-known British public figures of his era. Before reaching his highest offices, he also attracted attention as a traveler and writer, publishing a popular account of his journeys in the North Atlantic.

His public career was unusually wide-ranging. He served as governor general of Canada from 1872 to 1878, where he is remembered for encouraging unity in the young dominion, and later as viceroy of India from 1884 to 1888. He also held major diplomatic posts, including ambassadorial roles in the Ottoman Empire, Italy, and France.

He died at Clandeboye in Ireland on February 12, 1902. Today he is remembered as a polished diplomat and energetic imperial administrator, but also as a lively Victorian personality whose life combined politics, travel, and writing.