Evelyn Byng, Viscountess Byng of Vimy

Lady Byng, née Marie Evelyn Moreton (Philip Alexius de László, 1917)

Lady Byng, photographed in 1921

Evelyn Byng, Viscountess Byng of Vimy (January 11, 1870 – June 20, 1949), also known as Lady Byng, was the wife of Lord Byng, the 12th Governor General of Canada (1921-1926).

Biography

Born as Marie Evelyn Moreton in London in 1870, she was the daughter of the Hon. Sir Richard Charles Reynolds-Moreton and Janie Ralli. Her father was comptroller at Rideau Hall during the term of Marquess of Lorne.

She married, at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, on 30 April 1902, Colonel the Hon. Julian Byng, youngest son of the 2nd Earl of Strafford.^[1] They lived in India before the outbreak of the First World War, and moved to Canada on his appointment as Governor-General in 1921. He was created Baron Byng of Vimy in 1919, for his service during the war, and Viscount Byng of Vimy in 1928, after his service in Canada. They had no children.

Lady Byng is best known today for donating the Lady Byng Trophy to the National Hockey League in 1925. She and her husband were both keen sports fans, especially of ice hockey, and they attended many Ottawa Senators games. They donated the trophy because Lady Byng appreciated gentlemanly play and good sportsmanship and wanted to encourage and reward it.

At the end of his term as Governor General, Lord and Lady Byng returned to England, but she returned to live in Canada with friends after his death in 1935. She spent time working at thrift shops in Ottawa during the war and wrote her autobiography Up the Stream of Time. Lady Byng died on June 20, 1949 in Ottawa, Ontario.^[2]

A 2/4 March for bagpipes was composed in honour of Evelyn Byng, Viscountess Byng of Vimy.^[3]

References

1. "Court Circular" The Times (London). Thursday, 1 May 1902. (36756), p. 9.
2. The Feminine Gaze: A Canadian Compendium of Non-fiction Women Authors
3. Archie Cairns - Book 1 Pipe Music 'Lady Byng of Vimy' 2/4 March 1995