John Adrian Louis Hope , 1st Marquess of Linlithgow KT , GCMG , GCVO , PC ( 25 September 1860 - 29 February 1908 ) , known as Viscount Aithrie before 1873 and as The 7th Earl of Hopetoun between 1873 and 1902 , was the first Governor-General of Australia . John Adrian Louis Hope , 1st Marquess of Linlithgow KT , GCMG , GCVO , PC ( 25 September 1860 â `` 29 February 1908 ) , also known as Viscount Aithrie before 1873 and as The 7th Earl of Hopetoun between 1873 and 1902 , was a Scottish aristocrat , politician and colonial administrator .