Lucius Cary, 10th Viscount Falkland

Lucius Bentinck Cary, 10th Viscount Falkland, was born on 5 November 1803. He was the son of Charles Cary, 9th Viscount Falkland, and Christiana Cary. He became the 10th Viscount Falkland in 1809, succeeding to the title at the age of five following the death of his father in a duel.

Falkland received education at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. His military career began in 1821 when he purchased an ensigncy in the 22nd Regiment of Foot on 21 April. Later that year, on 13 December, he transferred from the half-pay of the 22nd Regiment to the 63rd Regiment of Foot. Shortly thereafter, on 20 December 1821, he transferred again to the 71st Regiment of Foot. He purchased a lieutenancy in the 7th Regiment of Foot on 6 January 1825 and was promoted to captain on 9 December 1826. Falkland retired from the army in November 1830.

In the political arena, Falkland was involved as a reformer. He was elected to the House of Lords as a Scottish representative peer in 1831. Subsequently, on 10 May 1832, he was created Baron Hunsdon of Scutterskelfe in the County of York, a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, which granted him a seat in the House of Lords. He was admitted to the Privy Council in 1836.

In 1840, Falkland was appointed Governor of Nova Scotia, succeeding Sir Colin Campbell. During his governorship, he opposed Joseph Howe’s movement for responsible government, which led to Howe's threat to horsewhip him. Falkland restructured the colony’s Executive Council by including reformers, though he resisted granting the majority party in the legislature the right to form the government. His term as governor concluded in 1846, after which he returned to England.

Following his colonial service, Falkland served in the Whig government of Lord John Russell as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard from 1846 to 1848. In 1848, he was appointed Governor of Bombay, holding this position until 1853. After his tenure in India, he returned to England and served as a magistrate in Yorkshire.

Falkland married Lady Amelia FitzClarence on 27 December 1830 at the Royal Pavilion. Lady Amelia was the last unmarried illegitimate daughter of King William IV and his mistress, Dorothy Jordan. King William IV personally attended the wedding, giving her away, with the ceremony performed by the Bishop of Winchester. The couple resided at Rudby Hall, North Yorkshire, and had one son, Lucius William Charles Frederick Cary, who held the courtesy title Master of Falkland. Born on 24 November 1831, their son married Sarah Christiana Keighly but died childless on 6 August 1871.

Lucius Bentinck Cary, 10th Viscount Falkland, died on 12 March 1884 in Montpellier at the age of 80. Since his only son predeceased him, he was succeeded by his younger brother, Admiral Plantagenet Cary, as the 11th Viscount Falkland.

A geographical location in Nova Scotia, Canada, namely Falkland Ridge, was named in his honor.