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List of governors general of Canada facts for kids

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The Governor General of Canada is a very important person in Canada. They represent the King or Queen of Canada. This role is the oldest continuous job in Canada, going all the way back to Samuel de Champlain in 1627! The Governor General helps make sure Canada's government works smoothly.

Early Leaders of New France (1541–1627)

Before Canada became a country, it was called New France. It was a colony of France. The first leaders were called Lieutenant Generals or Viceroys. They represented the King of France.


No. Portrait Name
(Born–Died)
Time in Office Monarch
Reign
Ref.
Started Ended How long
1 Jean-François de la Roque de Roberval.jpg Jean-François Roberval
(c. 1495–1560)
1541 1543 1–2 years Francis I
(1515–1547)
2 Grand Royal Coat of Arms of France.svg Troilus de Mesqouez
(1536–1606)
1578 unknown unknown Henry III
(1574–1589)
Henry IV
(1589–1610)
3 Grand Royal Coat of Arms of France.svg Aymar de Chaste
(1514–1603)
1602 1603 0–1 years
4 Henri, Prince of Condé.jpg Henri II, Prince of Condé
(1588–1646)
1614 1619 4–5 years Louis XIII
(1610–1643)
5 Henri II de Montmorency.jpg Henri II, Duke of Montmorency
(1595–1632)
1619 1625 5–6 years
6 Grand Royal Coat of Arms of France.svg 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 manage the colony.


No. Portrait Name
(Born–Died)
Time in Office Monarch
Reign
Started Ended How long
1 GG-Champlain.jpg Samuel de Champlain
(1574–1635)
1627 1635 7–8 years Louis XIII
(1610–1643)
2 CharlesHuaultMontmagny.jpg Charles de Montmagny
(c. 1599–1654)
1635 1648 12–13 years
Louis XIV
(1643–1715)
3 Louis d'Ailleboust de Coulonge.jpg Louis d'Ailleboust de Coulonge
(c. 1612–1660)
1648 1651 2–3 years
4 Lausonjean.JPG Jean de Lauson
(1584–1666)
1651 1657 5–6 years
5 Pierre de Voyer d'Argenson.png Pierre de Voyer d'Argenson, Vicomte de Mouzay
(c. 1599–1654)
1658 1661 2–3 years
6 Pierre du Bois d'Avaugour.jpg Pierre Dubois Davaugour
(1625–1709)
1661 1663 1–2 years

Governors General of New France (1663–1760)

From 1663, the leaders of New France were given the title "Governor General." This showed they had even more power and responsibility in the colony.


No. Portrait Name
(Born–Died)
Time in Office Monarch
Reign
Started Ended How long
1 Augustin de Saffray de Mezy.jpg Augustin de Saffray de Mésy
(1598–1665)
1663 1665 1–2 years Louis XIV
(1643–1715)
2 Portrait of Daniel de Rémy de Courcelle.jpg Daniel de Rémy de Courcelle
(1626–1698)
1665 1672 6–7 years
3 Portrait of Louis de Buade, Count of Frontenac (cropped).jpg Louis de Buade, Count of Frontenac
(1622–1698)
1672 1682 9–10 years
4 Joseph-Antoine Le Febvre de La Barre.jpg Joseph-Antoine le Fèbvre, Sieur of La Barre
(1622–1688)
1682 1685 2–3 years
5 Jacques-Rene de Brisay, Marquis de Denonville.jpg Jacques-René de Brisay, Marquis de Denonville
(1637–1710)
1685 1689 3–4 years
(3) Portrait of Louis de Buade, Count of Frontenac (cropped).jpg Louis de Buade, Count of Frontenac
(1622–1698)
1689 1698 8–9 years
6 Hector-Calliere.jpg Louis-Hector de Callière
(1648–1703)
1698 1703 4–5 years
7 GG-Vaudreuil.jpg Philippe de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil
(1622–1698)
1703 1725 21–22 years
Louis XV
(1715–1774)
8 Marquis de Beauharnois.jpg Charles de la Boische, Marquis de Beauharnois
(1671–1749)
1725 1747 21–22 years
9 GG-La Galissoniere.jpg Roland-Michel Barrin de La Galissonière
(1693–1756)
1747 1749 1–2 years
10 GG-Jonquiere.jpg Jacques-Pierre de Taffanel de la Jonquière, Marquis de la Jonquière
(1685–1752)
1749 1752 2–3 years
11 GG-Quesne.jpg Michel-Ange Duquesne de Menneville, Marquess Duquesne
(c. 1700–1778)
1752 1755 2–3 years
12 GG-Vaudreuil2.jpg Pierre de Rigaud, marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnial
(1698–1778)
1755 1760 4–5 years

Governors of the Province of Quebec (1760–1786)

After the Seven Years' War, France lost control of New France to Great Britain. This happened with the Treaty of Paris in 1763. The area became the British Province of Quebec. The new governors now served the British King.


No. Portrait Name
(Born–Died)
Time in Office Monarch
Reign
Started Ended How long
1 Jeffrey Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst.jpg Jeffery Amherst
(1717–1797)
1760 1763 2–3 years George III
(1760–1820)
2 James Murray from NPG.jpg James Murray
(1721–1794)
1764 1768 4–5 years
3 General-Sir-Guy-Carleton 2.jpg Guy Carleton
(1724–1808)
1768 1778 9–10 years
4 Sir Frederick Haldimand by Sir Joshua Reynolds.jpg Sir Frederick Haldimand
(1724–1808)
1778 1786 7–8 years

Governors General of the Canadas/British North America (1786–1841)

This period saw the role of Governor General expand. They were in charge of not just Quebec, but other British areas in North America, including what would become parts of Canada.


No. Portrait Name
(Born–Died)
Time in Office Monarch
Reign
Started Ended How long
1 General-Sir-Guy-Carleton 2.jpg Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester
(1724–1808)
1786 1796 9–10 years George III
(1760–1820)
2 GG-Robert Prescott.jpg Robert Prescott
(c. 1726–1815)
1796 1799 2–3 years
3 George Romney - Sir Robert Shore Milnes.jpg Sir Robert Milnes, 1st Baronet
(1754–1837)
1799 1805 5–6 years
4 Can GG NoPic.svg Thomas Dunn
(1729–1818)
1805 1807 1–2 years
5 James Henry Craig 1806.jpg Sir James Henry Craig
(1748–1812)
1807 1811 3–4 years
6 Georgeprevost.JPG Sir George Prevost, 1st Baronet
(1767–1816)
1811 1815 3–4 years
7 Gordon Drummond (cropped).jpg Sir Gordon Drummond
(1772–1854)
1815 1816 0–1 years
8 SirJohnSherbrookeByRobertField.jpg Sir John Coape Sherbrooke
(1764–1830)
1816 1818 1–2 years
9 Henry Hoppner Meyer10.jpg Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond
(1764–1819)
1818 1819 0–1 years
10 George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie, from the National Gallery of Canada.jpg George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie
(1770–1838)
1820 1828 7–8 years George IV
(1820–1830)
11 Sir James Kempt by William Salter cropped 5 6 ratio.jpg Sir James Kempt
(c. 1765–1854)
1828 1830 1–2 years
12 GG-Matthew Whitworth-Aylmer.jpg Matthew Whitworth-Aylmer, 5th Baron Aylmer
(1775–1850)
1830 1835 4–5 years William IV
(1830–1837)
13 Archibald Earl of Gosford. (BM 1853,0112.2138) (cropped).jpg Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford
(1776–1849)
1835 1837 1–2 years
14 Field Marshal Sir John Colborne (1778–1863), 1st Baron Seaton, GCB, GCH.jpg Sir John Colborne
(1778–1863)
1837 1838 0–1 years Victoria
(1837–1901)
15 John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham by Thomas Phillips.jpg John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham
(1792–1840)
1838 1839 0–1 years
16 GG-Charles Poulett Thomson.jpg Charles Poulett Thomson, 1st Baron Sydenham
(1799–1841)
1839 1841 1–2 years

Governors General of the Province of Canada (1841–1867)

In 1841, Upper and Lower Canada joined to form the Province of Canada. The Governor General continued to be the main representative of the British monarch in this new, larger colony.


No. Portrait Name
(Born–Died)
Time in Office Monarch
Reign
Started Ended How long
1 GG-Charles Poulett Thomson.jpg Charles Poulett Thomson, 1st Baron Sydenham
(1799–1841)
5 February
1841
19 September
1841
226 days Victoria
(1837–1901)
2 SirCharlesBagot.JPG Sir Charles Bagot
(1781–1843)
12 January
1842
19 May
1843
1 year, 127 days
3 Charles Theophilus Metcalfe, 1st Baron Metcalfe by George Chinnery.jpg Charles Metcalfe, 1st Baron Metcalfe
(1785–1846)
30 May
1843
26 November
1845
2 years, 180 days
4 GG-Charles Murray Cathcart.jpg Charles Cathcart, 2nd Earl Cathcart
(1783–1859)
26 November
1845
30 January
1847
1 year, 65 days
5 GG-James Bruce Elgin.jpg James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin
(1811–1863)
30 January
1847
19 December
1854
7 years, 323 days
6 GG-Edmund Walker Head.jpg Sir Edmund Walker Head, Baronet
(1805–1868)
19 December
1854
25 October
1861
6 years, 310 days
7 GG-Charles Monck.jpg Charles Monck, 4th Viscount Monck
(1819–1894)
25 October
1861
1 July
1867
5 years, 249 days

Governors General of Canada (1867–Present)

On July 1, 1867, Canada became its own country, a Dominion within the British Empire. The Governor General continued to be the monarch's representative. This role is still very important today. The Governor General helps lead the country and performs many official duties.


No. Portrait Name
(Born–Died)
Job Time in Office Monarch
Reign
Prime Minister
Term of office
Ref.
Started Ended How long
1 GG-Charles Monck.jpg 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 GG-John Young.jpg John Young, 1st Baron Lisgar
(1807–1876)
Politician 14 November
1868
25 June
1872
3 years, 144 days
3 GG-Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood.jpg 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)
Sir John A. Macdonald
(1878–1891)
4 GG-John Campbell.jpg John Campbell, Marquess of Lorne
(1845–1914)
Author,
Politician
25 November
1878
23 October
1883
4 years, 332 days
5 GG-Henry Petty-FitzMaurice.jpg Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne
(1845–1927)
Politician 23 October
1883
11 June
1888
4 years, 232 days
6 GG-Frederick Stanley.jpg Frederick Stanley, Lord Stanley of Preston
(1841–1908)
Politician 11 June
1888
18 September
1893
5 years, 99 days
Sir John Abbott
(1891–1892)
Sir John Sparrow David Thompson
(1892–1894)
7 John Hamilton Gordon Earl of Aberdeen 1884.jpg 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)
Sir Charles Tupper
(1896)
Sir Wilfrid Laurier
(1896–1911)
8 GG-Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound.jpg 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)
9 GG-Albert Grey.jpg Albert Grey, 4th Earl Grey
(1851–1917)
Politician 10 December
1904
13 October
1911
6 years, 307 days
George V
(1910–1936)
Sir Robert Borden
(1911–1920)
10 GG-Prince Arthur.jpg Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
(1850–1942)
Military officer 13 October
1911
11 November
1916
5 years, 29 days
11 GG-Victor Cavendish.jpg Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire
(1868–1938)
Politician 11 November
1916
11 August
1921
4 years, 273 days
Arthur Meighen
(1920–1921)
12 GG-Julian Byng.jpg 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)
Arthur Meighen
(1926)
William Lyon Mackenzie King
(1926–1930)
13 GG-Freeman Freeman-Thomas.jpg 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)
14 GG-Vere Ponsonby.jpg 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)
15 GG-John Buchan.jpg John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir
(1875–1940)
Author, Politician 2 November
1935
11 February
1940
4 years, 101 days
Edward VIII
(1936)
George VI
(1936–1952)
16 GG-Alexander Cambridge.jpg Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone
(1874–1957)
Military officer 21 June
1940
12 April
1946
5 years, 295 days
17 GG-Harold Alexander.jpg 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)
18 Governor General Vincent Massey (cropped).jpg Vincent Massey
(1887–1967)
Diplomat 28 February
1952
15 September
1959
7 years, 199 days Elizabeth II
(1952–2022)
John Diefenbaker
(1957–1963)
19 Portrait of Governor General Georges Vanier (1965 UPI press photo).jpg Georges Vanier
(1888–1967)
Military officer,
Diplomat
15 September
1959
5 March
1967
7 years, 171 days
Lester B. Pearson
(1963–1968)
20 Governor General Roland Michener at Alma College graduation ceremonies 1972 (crop).jpg Roland Michener
(1900–1991)
Politician 17 April
1967
14 January
1974
6 years, 272 days
Pierre Trudeau
(1968–1979)
21 Jules Léger
(1913–1980)
Diplomat 14 January
1974
22 January
1979
5 years, 8 days
22 Edward Schreyer delivering Speech from the Throne 1980 (cropped).jpg Edward Schreyer
(born 1935)
Politician 22 January
1979
14 May
1984
5 years, 113 days
Joe Clark
(1979–1980)
Pierre Trudeau
(1980–1984)
23 Jeanne Sauvé at Rideau Hall during visit of Ronald Reagan April 1987.jpg Jeanne Sauvé
(1922–1993)
Journalist,
Politician
14 May
1984
29 January
1990
5 years, 260 days
John Turner
(1984)
Brian Mulroney
(1984–1993)
24 Canadian Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn greeted by NORAD deputy commander-in-chief LGEN Robert W. Morton (cropped).jpg Ray Hnatyshyn
(1934–2002)
Politician 29 January
1990
8 February
1995
5 years, 10 days
Kim Campbell
(1993)
Jean Chrétien
(1993–2003)
25 Roméo LeBlanc 1979 (cropped).jpg Roméo LeBlanc
(1928–2009)
Journalist,
Politician
8 February
1995
7 October
1999
4 years, 242 days
26 GG-Adrienne Clarkson2.jpg Adrienne Clarkson
(born 1939)
Journalist 7 October
1999
27 September
2005
5 years, 355 days
Paul Martin
(2003–2006)
27 GG-Michaëlle Jean.jpg Michaëlle Jean
(born 1957)
Journalist 27 September
2005
1 October
2010
5 years, 4 days
Stephen Harper
(2006–2015)
28 David Johnston 2011-12-01.jpg David Johnston
(born 1941)
Law professor,
University administrator
1 October
2010
2 October
2017
7 years, 1 day
Justin Trudeau
(2015–2025)
29 Julie Payette 2017.jpg Julie Payette
(born 1963)
Astronaut,
Engineer
2 October
2017
22 January
2021
3 years, 112 days

30 Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada.jpg Mary Simon
(born 1947)
Broadcaster,
Diplomat
26 July
2021
Incumbent 4 years, 5 days
Charles III
(since 2022)
Mark Carney
(since 2025)

Administrators

Sometimes, if the Governor General is away, resigns, or passes away, another person steps in to do the job temporarily. This person is called an Administrator of the Government. Usually, it's the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.

Lyman Poore Duff
Chief Justice Lyman Duff was administrator of Canada in 1940.

Here are some people who have served as Administrators:

  • Chief Justice Sir Lyman Duff stepped in between February 11 and June 21, 1940. This was after Lord Tweedsmuir passed away and before Lord Athlone arrived.
  • Senior Justice Patrick Kerwin was Administrator from June 11 to August 2, 1951. This happened when Governor General Lord Alexander and Chief Justice Thibaudeau Rinfret were away.
  • Chief Justice Thibaudeau Rinfret served from January 28 to February 28, 1952. This was after Lord Alexander left and before Vincent Massey became Governor General.
  • Chief Justice Robert Taschereau took over from March 5 to April 17, 1967. This was after Georges Vanier passed away and before Roland Michener was installed.
  • Chief Justice Bora Laskin was Administrator from July 2 to December 9, 1974. This was while Governor General Jules Léger was recovering from a stroke.
  • Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin served for a few weeks in July 2005. This was when Governor General Adrienne Clarkson was in the hospital.
  • Chief Justice Richard Wagner was Administrator from January 22 to July 26, 2021. This was after Julie Payette resigned and before Mary Simon was installed.

See also

  • List of Canadian monarchs
  • List of vicereines in Canada
  • Viceregal consort of Canada
  • Viceregal eponyms in Canada
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