George Rous, 3rd Earl of Stradbroke

Who was George Rous, 3rd Earl of Stradbroke?

George Edward John Mowbray Rous, 3rd Earl of Stradbroke, KCMG CB CVO CBE VD TD was a British noble and the 15th Governor of Victoria, Australia.

He also served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries from 1928 until the defeat of the 1924-1929 Conservative Government.

Viscount Dunwich, as he then was, was commissioned Captain in the 1st Norfolk Artillery Volunteers in 1882. He was promoted Major in 1884, Lieutenant-Colonel in 1888, and Colonel in 1902. He retired from the Territorial Army Royal Artillery in 1930. As ex. officio the Chief Scout of Victoria as Governor, Lord Stradbroke also sponsored the Victorian Scouting competition, the Stradbroke Cup. This event is still held every year and is immensely popular.

A Freemason, he was initiated to the craft in the Lodge of Prudence No. 388. After he became Worshipful Master of the Lodge, he was appointed Provincial Grand Master of Suffolk in 1902 holding the position for forty-five years. Two years after being appointed Governor of Victoria, he was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Victoria.