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Field Marshal The Right Honourable  Julian Byng, 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy  GCB GCMG MVO
12th Governor General of Canada
In office August 2, 1921 – August 5, 1926
Prime Minister	Arthur Meighen, William Lyon Mackenzie King
Monarch	George V
Preceded by	Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire
Succeeded by	Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon
Born	September 11, 1862(1862-09-11) Barnet, England
Died	June 6, 1935 (aged 72) Thorpe-le-Soken, England
Spouse	Marie Byng, Viscountess Byng of Vimy
Profession	Officer

Field Marshal Julian Hedworth George Byng, 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy GCB GCMG MVO (11 September 1862– 6 June 1935) was a British Army officer who served with distinction during World War I with the British Expeditionary Force in France, in the Battle of Gallipoli of the Dardanelles campaign, as commander of the Canadian Corps, and as commander of the British Third Army.

Known to friends as "Bungo",^[1] Lord Byng later became the twelfth Governor General of Canada. The Canadian Government's eventual response to his actions in the King-Byng Affair led to a marked redefinition of the role of Governor General in constitutional matters for Canada and for the other dominions of the British Empire.

Contents 1 World War I 2 Byng as Governor General 2.1 The King-Byng Affair 3 Life After Rideau Hall 4 See also 5 External links

When the First World War began, Byng campaigned in France with the British Expeditionary Force as commander of the Cavalry Corps, which included the Canadian Cavalry Brigade. Later he commanded the British 9th Army Corps in the ill-fated Dardanelles Campaign and supervised the British withdrawal from the straits.

In 1916 Byng took command of the Canadian Army Corps on the Western Front. With his subordinate General Arthur Currie, he gained his greatest glory with the Canadian victory at the Battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917, an historic military victory for Canada that inspired nationalism at home. Following this victory, Byng took command of the British Third Army, where he conducted the first surprise attack using tanks at Cambrai, considered a turning point in the war. For these services he was promoted to the rank of general, and after the war was raised to the peerage as 1st Baron Byng of Vimy and Thorpe-le-Soken, in Essex, on 7 October 1919.

Lord Byng was appointed Governor General of Canada on 2 August 1921. He was very popular in Canada, and during his travels across the country throughout his term of office he was enthusiastically greeted by the men he had led in wartime. His appointment was far less controversial than that of his predecessor, the Duke of Devonshire. This was partly due to his popularity, but also because he was appointed following direct consultation with the Canadian government.

Lord Byng took to the office enthusiastically, further entrenching many of the traditions established by his predecessors. He also broke with tradition and was the first Governor General to appoint Canadian aides-de-camp. One of them was Georges Vanier, who later served as Governor General from 1959 to 1967.

He was always passionate about sport, and both he and his wife particularly loved ice hockey; Lord Byng rarely missed a game played by the Ottawa Senators. In 1925, Lady Byng presented the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy to the National Hockey League, which, to this day, recognizes sportsmanship and excellence in play.

Lord and Lady Byng also travelled more than any of their predecessors, making extended trips to western Canada and the North, taking the opportunity to meet with many Canadians. Lord Byng established the Governor General's Cup at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, and Lady Byng created a rock garden at Rideau Hall, which still delights visitors today.

Main article: King-Byng Affair

The most notable issue during Lord Byng's term of office was the "King-Byng Affair," a political crisis that arose between the Governor General and Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King. It was watched closely by both the Canadian and British governments, and led directly to the redefinition of the role of Governor General, the Balfour Declaration 1926, and the Statute of Westminster 1931.

Following his term as Governor General, Lord and Lady Byng returned to England, where he was created 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy at the end of 1926. He served as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal, finally retiring with his wife to Essex, England. Lord Byng died at Thorpe Hall, Thorpe-le-Soken in 1935 and Lady Byng returned to Canada during World War II to live with friends. She died in 1949.

1. ^ Canada's Army

• Earl of Strafford (1847 creation)
• Viscount Torrington

• Governors General of Canada
• First World War

Military offices
Preceded by Sir Edwin Alfred Hervey Alderson	Commander of the Canadian Corps 1916–1917	Succeeded by Sir Arthur William Currie
Preceded by Edmund Allenby	Commander of the British Third Army 1917–1918	Succeeded by None
Preceded by The Viscount Downe	Colonel of the 10th Royal Hussars 1924–1935	Succeeded by The Viscount Hampden
Political offices
Preceded by The Duke of Devonshire	Governor General of Canada 1921–1926	Succeeded by The Viscount Willingdon
Police appointments
Preceded by Sir William Horwood	Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis 1928–1931	Succeeded by Sir Hugh Trenchard
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by New Creation	Baron Byng of Vimy 1919–1935	Succeeded by Extinct
	Viscount Byng of Vimy 1926–1935

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