Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmond, 4th Earl of Minto (1845 – 1914)
Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmond was born in London, the eldest son of William Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 3rd Earl of Minto. Gilbert had a courtesy title of Viscount Melgund. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, and then entered the Scots Guards in 1867. For the next twelve years he served in various capacities during military actions in Spain, Turkey, Afghanistan, South Africa, Egypt, and Canada. In Canada from 1883 to 1886, Viscount Melgund served as Military Secretary to Governor General Lord Lansdowne and was Chief of Staff to General Middleton during the Northwest Rebellion of 1885. From 1886 to 1898, he was in semi-retirement on his Roxburgshire estate. He inherited the earldom on the death of his father in 1891. Lord Minto was appointed Governor General of Canada in 1898 and held that post until November 1904.1)
Governor General Minto received requests for government reform from the Yukon, including resolutions sent by Joseph Clarke, secretary for a miners’ meeting of Yukon citizens held on 5 May 1900. That summer, Lord Minto travelled to the Yukon as a result of accusation against Sifton, an unsatisfactory inquest, and the problems associated with the boundary dispute.2) Minto and his official entourage arrived in Dawson on August 14, and a local holiday was declared.3) Constable John Barrie of the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) was controlling the official enclosure at the dock in Dawson, and he procured invitations from people who had already been in and gave them to three well-known prostitutes. Superintendent Wood was not amused, and Barrie was given a sentence of two-month imprisonment with hard labour and then dismissed from the force.4)
The NWMP post near Minto was named in Governor General Minto’s honour. The original post was closed in 1903 and a new post was built across the river at Minto Landing.5)
In November 1905, Lord Minto was appointed Viceroy of India and served until 1910 when he retired to the family estate. There are papers relating to Lord Minto's career as Governor General, 1898-1904, and to his earlier career in Canada as Viscount Melgund, Military Secretary to Lord Lansdowne, 1883-1886.6)
Lord Minto's term was marked by strong nationalism and massive immigration. His convictions about the importance of preserving Canadian heritage led to the creation of the National Archives of Canada.7)