List of governors general of Canada facts for kids
The Governor General of Canada is a very important person in Canada! They represent the King or Queen of Canada (currently King Charles III) in Canada. This role is one of the oldest and most continuous jobs in Canadian history, going all the way back to 1627 with Samuel de Champlain.
The Governor General's job is explained in Canada's main laws, like the Constitution Act, 1867 and the Letters Patent, 1947. They help make sure the government runs smoothly and act as a symbol of Canada's connection to the Crown.
Contents
- Early Leaders of New France (1541–1627)
- Governors of New France (1627–1663)
- Governors General of New France (1663–1760)
- Governors of British Quebec (1760–1786)
- Governors General of the Canadas (1786–1841)
- Governors General of the Province of Canada (1841–1867)
- Governors General of Canada (1867–Present)
- Temporary Leaders (Administrators)
- See also
Early Leaders of New France (1541–1627)
Before Canada became a country, it was known as New France, a colony of France. The first leaders were called "Lieutenant General" or "Viceroy." They were like the King's representatives in the new land.
No. | Picture | Name (Born–Died) |
Time in Office | French Monarch Reign |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Started | Ended | How long | ||||
1 | ![]() |
Jean-François Roberval (c. 1495–1560) |
1541 | 1543 | 1–2 years | Francis I (1515–1547) |
2 | ![]() |
Troilus de Mesqouez (1536–1606) |
1578 | unknown | unknown | Henry III (1574–1589) |
Henry IV (1589–1610) |
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3 | ![]() |
Aymar Chaste (1514–1603) |
1602 | 1603 | 0–1 years | |
4 | ![]() |
Henri II, Prince of Condé (1588–1646) |
1614 | 1619 | 4–5 years | Louis XIII (1610–1643) |
5 | ![]() |
Henri II, Duke of Montmorency (1595–1632) |
1619 | 1625 | 5–6 years | |
6 | ![]() |
Henri de Lévis de Ventadour, Duke of Ventadour (1596–1651) |
1625 | 1627 | 1–2 years |
Governors of New France (1627–1663)
After 1627, the leaders of New France were called "Governors." They were still representing the French King and helping to build the colony.
No. | Picture | Name (Born–Died) |
Time in Office | French Monarch Reign |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Started | Ended | How long | ||||
1 | ![]() |
Samuel de Champlain (1574–1635) |
1627 | 1635 | 7–8 years | Louis XIII (1610–1643) |
2 | ![]() |
Charles de Montmagny (c. 1599–1654) |
1635 | 1648 | 12–13 years | |
Louis XIV (1643–1715) |
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3 | ![]() |
Louis d'Ailleboust de Coulonge (c. 1612–1660) |
1648 | 1651 | 2–3 years | |
4 | Jean de Lauson (1584–1666) |
1651 | 1657 | 5–6 years | ||
5 | ![]() |
Pierre de Voyer d'Argenson, Vicomte de Mouzay (c. 1599–1654) |
1658 | 1661 | 2–3 years | |
6 | ![]() |
Pierre Dubois Davaugour (1625–1709) |
1661 | 1663 | 1–2 years |
Governors General of New France (1663–1760)
The title changed again to "Governor General" in 1663. These leaders continued to govern New France until it became a British colony.
No. | Picture | Name (Born–Died) |
Time in Office | French Monarch Reign |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Started | Ended | How long | ||||
1 | ![]() |
Augustin de Saffray de Mésy (1598–1665) |
1663 | 1665 | 1–2 years | Louis XIV (1643–1715) |
2 | Daniel de Rémy de Courcelle (1626–1698) |
1665 | 1672 | 6–7 years | ||
3 | ![]() |
Louis de Buade, Count of Frontenac (1622–1698) |
1672 | 1682 | 9–10 years | |
4 | ![]() |
Joseph-Antoine le Fèbvre, Sieur of La Barre (1622–1688) |
1682 | 1685 | 2–3 years | |
5 | ![]() |
Jacques-René de Brisay de Denonville, Marquis de Denonville (1637–1710) |
1685 | 1689 | 3–4 years | |
(3) | ![]() |
Louis de Buade, Count of Frontenac (1622–1698) |
1689 | 1698 | 8–9 years | |
6 | ![]() |
Louis-Hector de Callière (1648–1703) |
1698 | 1703 | 4–5 years | |
7 | ![]() |
Philippe de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil (1622–1698) |
1703 | 1725 | 21–22 years | |
Louis XV (1715–1774) |
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8 | ![]() |
Charles de la Boische, Marquis de Beauharnois (1671–1749) |
1725 | 1747 | 21–22 years | |
9 | ![]() |
Roland-Michel Barrin de La Galissonière (1693–1756) |
1747 | 1749 | 1–2 years | |
10 | ![]() |
Jacques-Pierre de Taffanel de la Jonquière, Marquis de la Jonquière (1685–1752) |
1749 | 1752 | 2–3 years | |
11 | ![]() |
Michel-Ange Duquesne de Menneville, Marquess Duquesne (c. 1700–1778) |
1752 | 1755 | 2–3 years | |
12 | ![]() |
Pierre de Rigaud, marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnial (1698–1778) |
1755 | 1760 | 4–5 years |
Governors of British Quebec (1760–1786)
After the Seven Years' War, France lost control of New France to Great Britain. This new British area was called the Province of Quebec. The leaders were now called "Governors" and represented the British King.
No. | Picture | Name (Born–Died) |
Time in Office | British Monarch Reign |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Started | Ended | How long | ||||
1 | ![]() |
Jeffery Amherst (1717–1797) |
1760 | 1763 | 2–3 years | George III (1760–1820) |
2 | ![]() |
James Murray (1721–1794) |
1764 | 1768 | 4–5 years | |
3 | ![]() |
Guy Carleton (1724–1808) |
1768 | 1778 | 9–10 years | |
4 | ![]() |
Sir Frederick Haldimand (1724–1808) |
1778 | 1786 | 7–8 years |
Governors General of the Canadas (1786–1841)
This period saw the British colonies in North America grow. The leader's role became "Governor General of the Canadas/British North America."
No. | Picture | Name (Born–Died) |
Time in Office | British Monarch Reign |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Started | Ended | How long | ||||
1 | ![]() |
Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester (1724–1808) |
1786 | 1796 | 9–10 years | George III (1760–1820) |
2 | ![]() |
Robert Prescott (c. 1726–1815) |
1796 | 1799 | 2–3 years | |
3 | ![]() |
Sir Robert Milnes, 1st Baronet (1754–1837) |
1799 | 1805 | 5–6 years | |
4 | ![]() |
Thomas Dunn (1729–1818) |
1805 | 1807 | 1–2 years | |
5 | ![]() |
Sir James Henry Craig (1748–1812) |
1807 | 1811 | 3–4 years | |
6 | ![]() |
Sir George Prévost, 1st Baronet (1767–1816) |
1811 | 1815 | 3–4 years | |
7 | ![]() |
Sir Gordon Drummond (1772–1854) |
1815 | 1816 | 0–1 years | |
8 | ![]() |
Sir John Coape Sherbrooke (1764–1830) |
1816 | 1818 | 1–2 years | |
9 | ![]() |
Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond (1764–1819) |
1818 | 1819 | 0–1 years | |
10 | ![]() |
George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie (1770–1838) |
1820 | 1828 | 7–8 years | George IV (1820–1830) |
11 | ![]() |
Sir James Kempt (c. 1765–1854) |
1828 | 1830 | 1–2 years | |
12 | ![]() |
Matthew Whitworth-Aylmer, 5th Baron Aylmer (1775–1850) |
1830 | 1835 | 4–5 years | William IV (1830–1837) |
13 | ![]() |
Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford (1776–1849) |
1835 | 1837 | 1–2 years | |
14 | ![]() |
Sir John Colborne (1778–1863) |
1837 | 1838 | 0–1 years | Victoria (1837–1901) |
15 | ![]() |
John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham (1792–1840) |
1838 | 1839 | 0–1 years | |
16 | ![]() |
Charles Poulett Thomson, 1st Baron Sydenham (1799–1841) |
1839 | 1841 | 1–2 years |
Governors General of the Province of Canada (1841–1867)
The Province of Canada was formed by joining Upper and Lower Canada. The Governors General continued to lead this larger colony until Canada became its own country in 1867.
No. | Picture | Name (Born–Died) |
Time in Office | British Monarch Reign |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Started | Ended | How long | ||||
1 | ![]() |
Charles Poulett Thomson, 1st Baron Sydenham (1799–1841) |
5 February 1841 |
19 September 1841 |
226 days | Victoria (1837–1901) |
2 | ![]() |
Sir Charles Bagot (1781–1843) |
12 January 1842 |
19 May 1843 |
1 year, 127 days | |
3 | ![]() |
Charles Metcalfe, 1st Baron Metcalfe (1785–1846) |
30 May 1843 |
26 November 1845 |
2 years, 180 days | |
4 | ![]() |
Charles Cathcart, 2nd Earl Cathcart (1783–1859) |
26 November 1845 |
30 January 1847 |
1 year, 65 days | |
5 | ![]() |
James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin (1811–1863) |
30 January 1847 |
19 December 1854 |
7 years, 323 days | |
6 | ![]() |
Sir Edmund Walker Head, Baronet (1805–1868) |
19 December 1854 |
25 October 1861 |
6 years, 310 days | |
7 | ![]() |
Charles Monck, 4th Viscount Monck (1819–1894) |
25 October 1861 |
1 July 1867 |
5 years, 249 days |
Governors General of Canada (1867–Present)
Since Canada became a country in 1867, the Governor General has continued to be the representative of the monarch. This role is very important for Canada's government and its connection to the Commonwealth.
No. | Picture | Name (Born–Died) |
Job | Time in Office | Monarch Reign |
Prime Minister Term of office |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Started | Ended | How long | ||||||
1 | ![]() |
Charles Monck, 4th Viscount Monck (1819–1894) |
Politician | 1 July 1867 |
14 November 1868 |
1 year, 136 days | Victoria (1837–1901) |
Sir John A. Macdonald (1867–1873) |
2 | ![]() |
John Young, 1st Baron Lisgar (1807–1876) |
Politician | 14 November 1868 |
25 June 1872 |
3 years, 144 days | ||
3 | ![]() |
Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Earl of Dufferin (1826–1902) |
Diplomat | 25 June 1872 |
25 November 1878 |
6 years, 153 days | ||
Alexander Mackenzie (1873–1878) |
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Sir John A. Macdonald (1878–1891) |
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4 | ![]() |
John Campbell, Marquess of Lorne (1845–1914) |
Author, Politician |
25 November 1878 |
23 October 1883 |
4 years, 332 days | ||
5 | ![]() |
Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne (1845–1927) |
Politician | 23 October 1883 |
11 June 1888 |
4 years, 232 days | ||
6 | ![]() |
Frederick Stanley, Lord Stanley of Preston (1841–1908) |
Politician | 11 June 1888 |
18 September 1893 |
5 years, 99 days | ||
Sir John Abbott (1891–1892) |
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Sir John Sparrow David Thompson (1892–1894) |
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7 | ![]() |
John Hamilton-Gordon, 7th Earl of Aberdeen (1847–1934) |
Politician | 18 September 1893 |
12 November 1898 |
5 years, 55 days | ||
Sir Mackenzie Bowell (1894–1896) |
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Sir Charles Tupper (1896) |
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Sir Wilfrid Laurier (1896–1911) |
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8 | ![]() |
Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto (1845–1914) |
Military officer | 12 November 1898 |
10 December 1904 |
6 years, 28 days | ||
Edward VII (1901–1910) |
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9 | ![]() |
Albert Grey, 4th Earl Grey (1851–1917) |
Politician | 10 December 1904 |
13 October 1911 |
6 years, 307 days | ||
George V (1910–1936) |
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Sir Robert Borden (1911–1920) |
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10 | ![]() |
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1850–1942) |
Military officer | 13 October 1911 |
11 November 1916 |
5 years, 29 days | ||
11 | ![]() |
Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire (1868–1938) |
Politician | 11 November 1916 |
11 August 1921 |
4 years, 273 days | ||
Arthur Meighen (1920–1921) |
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12 | ![]() |
Julian Byng, 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy (1862–1935) |
Military officer | 11 August 1921 |
2 October 1926 |
5 years, 52 days | ||
William Lyon Mackenzie King (1921–1926) |
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Arthur Meighen (1926) |
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William Lyon Mackenzie King (1926–1930) |
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13 | ![]() |
Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon (1866–1941) |
Politician | 2 October 1926 |
4 April 1931 |
4 years, 184 days | ||
R.B. Bennett (1930–1935) |
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14 | ![]() |
Vere Ponsonby, 9th Earl of Bessborough (1880–1956) |
Businessman | 4 April 1931 |
2 November 1935 |
4 years, 212 days | ||
William Lyon Mackenzie King (1935–1948) |
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15 | ![]() |
John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir (1875–1940) |
Author, Politician | 2 November 1935 |
11 February 1940 |
4 years, 101 days | ||
Edward VIII (1936) |
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George VI (1936–1952) |
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16 | ![]() |
Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone (1874–1957) |
Military officer | 21 June 1940 |
12 April 1946 |
5 years, 295 days | ||
17 | ![]() |
Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis (1891–1969) |
Military officer | 12 April 1946 |
28 January 1952 |
5 years, 300 days | ||
Louis St. Laurent (1948–1957) |
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18 | ![]() |
Vincent Massey (1887–1967) |
Diplomat | 28 February 1952 |
15 September 1959 |
7 years, 199 days | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
|
John Diefenbaker (1957–1963) |
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19 | ![]() |
Georges Vanier (1888–1967) |
Military officer, Diplomat |
15 September 1959 |
5 March 1967 |
7 years, 171 days | ||
Lester B. Pearson (1963–1968) |
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20 | ![]() |
Roland Michener (1900–1991) |
Politician | 17 April 1967 |
14 January 1974 |
6 years, 272 days | ||
Pierre Trudeau (1968–1979) |
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21 | Jules Léger (1913–1980) |
Diplomat | 14 January 1974 |
22 January 1979 |
5 years, 8 days | |||
22 | ![]() |
Edward Schreyer (born 1935) |
Politician | 22 January 1979 |
14 May 1984 |
5 years, 113 days | ||
Joe Clark (1979–1980) |
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Pierre Trudeau (1980–1984) |
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23 | ![]() |
Jeanne Sauvé (1922–1993) |
Journalist, Politician |
14 May 1984 |
29 January 1990 |
5 years, 260 days | ||
John Turner (1984) |
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Brian Mulroney (1984–1993) |
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24 | Ray Hnatyshyn (1934–2002) |
Politician | 29 January 1990 |
8 February 1995 |
5 years, 10 days | |||
Kim Campbell (1993) |
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Jean Chrétien (1993–2003) |
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25 | ![]() |
Roméo LeBlanc (1928–2009) |
Journalist, Politician |
8 February 1995 |
7 October 1999 |
4 years, 242 days | ||
26 | ![]() |
Adrienne Clarkson (born 1939) |
Journalist | 7 October 1999 |
27 September 2005 |
5 years, 355 days | ||
Paul Martin (2003–2006) |
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27 | ![]() |
Michaëlle Jean (born 1957) |
Journalist | 27 September 2005 |
1 October 2010 |
5 years, 4 days | ||
Stephen Harper (2006–2015) |
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28 | ![]() |
David Johnston (born 1941) |
Law professor, University administrator |
1 October 2010 |
2 October 2017 |
7 years, 1 day | ||
Justin Trudeau (since 2015) |
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29 | ![]() |
Julie Payette (born 1963) |
Astronaut, Engineer |
2 October 2017 |
22 January 2021 |
3 years, 112 days | ||
30 | ![]() |
Mary Simon (born 1947) |
Broadcaster, Diplomat |
26 July 2021 |
Incumbent | 3 years, 327 days | ||
Charles III (since 2022) |
Temporary Leaders (Administrators)
Sometimes, when a Governor General leaves office or is unable to do their job, a temporary leader steps in. This person is called an "Administrator of the Government." Usually, this role is filled by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.
Here are some examples of people who served as temporary Administrators:
- Chief Justice Lyman Duff (February 11 to June 21, 1940)
- Senior Justice Patrick Kerwin (June 11 to August 2, 1951)
- Chief Justice Thibaudeau Rinfret (January 28 to February 28, 1952)
- Chief Justice Robert Taschereau (March 5 to April 17, 1967)
- Chief Justice Bora Laskin (July 2 to December 9, 1974)
- Chief Justice Richard Wagner (January 22 to July 26, 2021)
See also
- List of Canadian monarchs
- List of vicereines in Canada
- Viceregal consort of Canada
- Viceregal eponyms in Canada