Grace in extremis

Ian Cameron

doi:10.1503/cmaj.045218

His Grace, Charles Lennox, loved animals.

George Romney (British, 1734–1802), Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond, Duke of Lennox, and of Aubigny (c. 1776–1777). Oil on canvas. 7.6 × 101.6 cm. The Beaverbrook Art Gallery/The Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation (in dispute, 2004). The Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton, NB. Photo by: The Beaverbrook Art Gallery/The Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation

He was born in the 18th century, into the English aristocracy, a world of privilege, duty and honour. At age 25 he was involved in a duel, triggered by a comment about family bravery. His adversary was his commanding officer and the second son of King George III. Lennox fired first and missed. His opponent was magnanimous and fired into the sky. The officers of the Coldstream Guards felt Lennox had acted bravely but with a lack of judgment.

At the age of 42, Charles Lennox inherited his uncle's titles, including Duke of Richmond, and became the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. There, he alienated the Roman Catholics but was given top marks for his love of horse racing and lavish parties. The parties very nearly bankrupted him, and when his term ended he could not afford to live on his English estate, Goodwood, which he temporarily closed. He took up residence in Brussels and there, in 1815, his wife gave the magnificent ball where, as a guest, the Duke of Wellington learned of the approach of Napoleon, 3 days before the Battle of Waterloo.

In 1818 the Colonial Secretary, a good friend and relative, appointed Lennox as Governor General of British North America. There, he alienated the French Canadians but, on the other hand, he recommended the foundation of a university, which became McGill, and encouraged the union of Upper and Lower Canada. While touring fortifications in the summer of 1819, he was bitten on the hand by a fox at William Henry [Sorel, Quebec].¹ The wound healed and he continued his tour. Later in the summer, while exploring the possibilities of inland navigation, he journeyed up the Rideau water system. Over a period of 4 days he developed pain in his throat, would not wash or shave, could only swallow with the greatest of difficulty, developed visible spasms in his throat and became increasingly agitated at the sight or even smell of water. On the fourth day he was given laudanum and then opium and his paroxysms abated. His last request was, “Give Blucher (his spaniel) to Mary [Lennox's wife]. It will make her cry at first but turn him in when she is alone and shut the door.” (Major George Bowles' Account [of the last days and death of the 4th Duke of Richmond August 1819], West Sussex Record Office, County Hall Chichester, West Sussex.)

His Grace, Charles Lennox the fourth Duke of Richmond and Lennox and fifth Governor General of Canada died on the morning of August 28, 1819, near the village of Richmond, Ont., perhaps the only head of state to die of rabies.

REFERENCE

1. Stanley GFG. Charles Lennox. In: Dictionary of Canadian biography. Vol 5. Toronto: University of Toronto; 2000. p. 488-90.

Rabies in 19th century Great Britain

Rabies was a well known clinical condition in Great Britain in the early part of the 19th century. The 7th edition of Thomas' practice published in 18211 has a 15-page section on hydrophobia, rabies or canine madness. The text correctly describes the transmission of the disease, the incubation of the disease after the bite (20–40 days) and the poor prognosis. Death inevitably occurred 3–4 days after the patient experienced symptoms of spasms in the throat and a dread of water. Symptom relief with laudanum and opium were recommended and these were the medications that the Duke of Richmond received on his last night.

George Stanley in his entry on the Duke of Richmond in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography states that the Duke was bitten by a fox in the summer of 1819 in Sorel, Que. He then visited military sites as far west as Niagara-on-the-Lake and returned to Kingston where he started a trip up the Rideau waterway. His military aides, Colonel Cockburn and Major Bowles, both wrote accounts of the Duke's last trip starting on August 20. Major Bowles wrote that the Duke's servant, Baptiste, first noticed the Duke had difficulty swallowing on August 23. Colonel Cockburn referred to the diagnostic term “hydrophobia” in relation to the Duke's symptoms on August 26. The Duke of Richmond is not quoted as using the term “rabies” or “hydrophobia,” but he told Major Bowles on August 27 that he was “perfectly convinced that he could not recover.” He died early on the morning of August 28 1819.

Sixty-six years later, Pasteur developed a successful vaccine against rabies (1885).

Following the 1897 epidemic of rabies in England, all dogs in infected areas were muzzled until the disease disappeared. Until recent years, all dogs entering the country from rabies endemic countries were quarantined for 6 months. Strict requirements for vaccination are still enforced and there has not been a case of rabies in England since 1902. Similar preventive measures have been successful in other countries.

Footnotes

Acknowledgement: Much of the background to the life of Charles Lennox was sourced from the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Vol. 5, p. 488–90: Charles Lennox, written by Canadian historian George F.G. Stanley.