List of governors general of Canada

The following is a list of the governors and governors general of Canada. Though the present-day office of the Governor General of Canada is legislatively covered under the Constitution Act, 1867 and legally constituted by the Letters Patent, 1947, the institution is, along with the institution of the Crown it represents, the oldest continuous and uniquely Canadian institution in Canada, having existed in an unbroken line since the appointment of Samuel de Champlain in 1627.

Viceroys of Canada, 1541–1627

30px Viceroys representing the monarchs of France
No.	Portrait	Name	Term of office
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
Under Francis I of France (1541–1547)
1		Jean-François Roberval (c. 1495–1560)	1541	1543	years
Under Henry III (1574–1589)
2		Troilus de Mesqouez (1536–1606)	1578	?	?
Under Henry IV (1589–1610)
↓		Troillus des Mesgoüets (continued)	1598	?	?
3		Aymar Chaste (1514–1603)	1602	1603	years
Under Louis XIII (1610–1627)
4		Henri, Prince of Condé (1588–1646)	1614	1619	years
5	100px	Henri II de Montmorency	1619	1625	years
6		Henri de Lévis de Ventadour	1625	1627	years

Governors of New France, 1627–1663

30px Governors representing the monarchs of France
No.	Portrait	Name	Term of office
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
Under Louis XIII of France (1627–1643)
1		Samuel de Champlain (1574–1635)	1627	1635	years
2		Charles de Montmagny (c. 1599–1654)	1635	14 May 1643	years
Under Louis XIV (1643–1663)
↓		Charles de Montmagny (continued)	14 May 1643	1648	years
3		Louis d'Ailleboust de Coulonge (c. 1612–1660)	1648	1651	years
4		Jean de Lauson (1584–1666)	1651	1657	years
5		Pierre de Voyer d'Argenson, Vicomte de Mouzay (c. 1599–1654)	1658	1661	years
6	135x135px	Pierre Dubois Davaugour (1625–1709)	1661	1663	years

Governors General of New France, 1663–1760

30px Governors general representing the monarchs of France
No.	Portrait	Name	Term of office
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
Under Louis XIV of France (1663–1715)
7		Augustin de Saffray de Mésy (1598–1665)	1663	1665	years
8		Daniel de Rémy de Courcelle (1626–1698)	1665	1672	years
9	100px	Louis de Buade de Frontenac (1622–1698) (first time)	1672	1682	years
10		Joseph-Antoine de La Barre (1622–1688)	1682	1685	years
11	100px	Jacques-René de Brisay de Denonville, Marquis de Denonville (1637–1710)	1685	1689	years
9	100px	Louis de Buade de Frontenac (1622–1698; second appointment)	1689	1698	years
12		Louis-Hector de Callière (1648–1703)	1698	1703	years
13		Philippe de Rigaud Vaudreuil (c. 1643–1725)	1703	1 September 1715	years
Under Louis XV (1715–1760)
↓		Philippe de Rigaud Vaudreuil (continued)	1 September 1715	1725	years
14		Charles de la Boische, Marquis de Beauharnois (1671–1749)	1725	1747	years
15		Roland-Michel Barrin de La Galissonière (1693–1756)	1747	1749	years
16		Jacques-Pierre de Taffanel de la Jonquière, Marquis de la Jonquière (1685–1752)	1749	1752	years
17		Michel-Ange Duquesne de Menneville (c. 1700–1778)	1752	1755	years
18		Pierre de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnal (1698–1778)	1755	1760	years

Governors of the Province of Quebec, 1760–1786

Governors representing the monarchs of Great Britain
No.	Portrait	Name	Term of office
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
Under George III of the United Kingdom (1760–1786)
19		Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst (1717–1797)	1760	1763	years
20		James Murray (1721–1794)	1764	1768	years
21		Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester KB, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1724–1808)	1768	1778	years
22		Sir Frederick Haldimand KB, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1718–1791)	1778	1786	years

Governors-in-Chief/Governors General of the Canadas, 1786–1841

Governors representing the monarchs of Great Britain
No.	Portrait	Name	Term of office
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
Under George III of the United Kingdom (1786–1820)
23		Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester KB, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1724–1808)	1786	1796	years
24		Robert Prescott (c. 1726–1815)	1796	1799	years
25		Sir Robert Milnes, 1st Baronet (1754–1837)	1799	1 January 1801	years
Governors representing the monarchs of the United Kingdom
↓		Sir Robert Milnes (continued)	1 January 1801	1805	years
26		Thomas Dunn (1729–1818)	1805	1807	years
27		Sir James Henry Craig KB, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1748–1812)	1807	1811	years
28		Sir George Prévost, 1st Baronet (1767–1816)	1811	1815	years
29		Sir Gordon Drummond (1772–1854)	1815	1816	years
30		Sir John Coape Sherbrooke (1764–1830)	1816	1818	years
31		Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond KG, PC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1764–1819)	1818	1819	years
Under George IV of the United Kingdom (1820–1830)
32		George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie GCB, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1770–1838)	1820	1828	years
33		Sir James Kempt GCB, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (c. 1765–1854)	1828	1830	years
Under William IV (1830–1837)
34		Matthew Whitworth-Aylmer, 5th Baron Aylmer (1775–1850)	1830	1835	years
35		Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford GCB, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1776–1849)	1835	1837	years
Under Victoria (1837–1841)
36		John Colborne, 1st Baron Seaton (1778–1863)	1837	1838	years
37		John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham (1792–1840)	1838	1839	years
38		Charles Poulett Thomson, 1st Baron Sydenham PC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1799–1841)	1839	5 February 1841	years

Governors General of the Province of Canada, 1841–1867

Governors general representing the monarchs of the United Kingdom
No.	Portrait	Name	Term of office
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
Under Queen Victoria (1841–1867)
↓		The Lord Sydenham (continued)	5 February 1841	19 September 1841 †
39		Sir Charles Bagot (1781–1843)	12 January 1842	19 May 1843
40		Charles Metcalfe, 1st Baron Metcalfe Bt, PC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1785–1846)	30 May 1843	26 November 1845
41		Charles Cathcart, 2nd Earl Cathcart GCB, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1783–1859)	26 November 1845	30 January 1847
42		James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin PC, GCB, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1811–1863)	30 January 1847	19 December 1854
43		Sir Edmund Walker Head, 8th Baronet KCB, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1805–1868)	19 December 1854	25 October 1861
44		Charles Monck, 4th Viscount Monck PC, GCMG, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1819–1894)	25 October 1861	1 July 1867

Governors General of Canada, 1867–present

Governors general representing the monarchs of the United Kingdom
No.	No.	Portrait	Name	Profession	Term of office			Prime Minister(s)
					Took office	Left office	Time in office
Under Queen Victoria (1867–1901)
↓	1		The Viscount Monck (continued)	Politician	1 July 1867	14 November 1868		Macdonald
45	2		John Young, 1st Baron Lisgar GCMG, GCB, PC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1807–1876)	Politician	2 February 1869	25 June 1872		Macdonald
46	3		Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, the Earl of Dufferin KP, GCB, GCMG, PC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1826–1902)	Diplomat	25 June 1872	25 November 1878		Macdonald Mackenzie Macdonald
47	4		John Campbell, Marquess of Lorne KG, KT, GCMG, GCVO, PC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1845–1914)	Author, politician	25 November 1878	23 October 1883		Macdonald
48	5		Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne KG, GCMG, PC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1845–1927)	Politician	23 October 1883	11 June 1888		Macdonald
49	6		Frederick Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley of Preston KG, GCB, GCVO, PC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1841–1908)	Politician	11 June 1888	18 September 1893		Macdonald Abbott Thompson
50	7		John Hamilton-Gordon, 7th Earl of Aberdeen KT, GCMG, GCVO, PC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1847–1934)	Politician	18 September 1893	12 November 1898		Thompson Bowell Tupper Laurier
51	8		Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto KG, GCMG, PC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1845–1914)	Military officer	12 November 1898	22 January 1901		Laurier
Under Edward VII (1901–1910)
↓	↓		The Earl of Minto (continued)		22 January 1901	10 December 1904		Laurier
52	9		Albert Grey, 4th Earl Grey GCMG, GCVO, PC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1851–1917)	Politician	10 December 1904	6 May 1910		Laurier
Under George V (1910–1931)
↓	↓		The Earl Grey (continued)		6 May 1910	13 October 1911		Laurier Borden
53	10		Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn KG, KT, KP, GCB, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, GCVO, GBE, TD, PC, ADC, , , , , , , , (1850–1942)	Military officer	13 October 1911	11 November 1916		Borden
54	11		Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire KG, GCMG, GCVO, PC, JP, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1868–1938)	Politician	11 November 1916	11 August 1921		Borden Meighen
55	12		Julian Byng, 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy GCB, GCMG, MVO, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1862–1935)	Military officer	11 August 1921	2 October 1926		Meighen King Meighen King
56	13		Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, GBE, PC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1866–1941)	Politician	2 October 1926	4 April 1931		King Bennett
57	14		Vere Ponsonby, 9th Earl of Bessborough GCMG, PC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1880–1956)	Businessman	4 April 1931	11 December 1931		Bennett King
Governors general representing the monarchs of Canada
↓	↓		Earl of Bessborough (continued)		11 December 1931	2 November 1935		Bennett
58	15		John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir GCMG, GCVO, CH, PC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1875–1940)	Author	2 November 1935	20 January 1936		King
Under Edward VIII (1936)
↓	↓		The Lord Tweedsmuir (continued)		20 January 1936	11 December 1936		King
Under George VI (1936–1952)
↓	↓		The Lord Tweedsmuir (continued)		11 December 1936	11 February 1940 †		King
59	16		Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, DSO, PC, ADC, FRS, , , , , , , , , , , , (1874–1957)	Military officer	21 June 1940	12 April 1946		King
60	17		Harold Alexander, the Viscount Alexander of Tunis KG, GCB, OM, GCMG, CSI, DSO, MC, CD, PC, PC, , , , , , , , , , (1891–1969)	Military officer	12 April 1946	6 February 1952		King St. Laurent
Under Elizabeth II (1952–present)
↓	↓		The Viscount Alexander of Tunis (continued)		6 February 1952	28 February 1952		St. Laurent
61	18	100px	Vincent Massey PC, CH, CD, FRSC(hon), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1887–1967)	Diplomat	28 February 1952	15 September 1959		St. Laurent Diefenbaker
62	19		Georges Vanier PC, DSO, MC, CD, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1888–1967)	Military officer, diplomat	15 September 1959	5 March 1967 †		Diefenbaker Pearson
63	20		Roland Michener PC, CC, CMM, CD, QC, FRHSC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1900–1991)	Politician	17 April 1967	14 January 1974		Pearson P. E. Trudeau
64	21		Jules Léger CC, CMM, CD, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1913–1980)	Diplomat	14 January 1974	22 January 1979		P. E. Trudeau
65	22	100px	Edward Schreyer CC, CMM, CD, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (born 1935)	Politician	22 January 1979	14 May 1984		P. E. Trudeau Clark P. E. Trudeau
66	23	100px	Jeanne Sauvé PC, CC, CMM, CD, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1922–1993)	Journalist, politician	14 May 1984	29 January 1990		P. E. Trudeau Turner Mulroney
67	24		Ray Hnatyshyn PC, CC, CMM, CD, QC, FRHSC(hon), , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1934–2002)	Politician	29 January 1990	8 February 1995		Mulroney Campbell Chrétien
68	25		Roméo LeBlanc PC, CC, CMM, CD, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (1928–2009)	Journalist, politician	8 February 1995	7 October 1999		Chrétien
69	26		Adrienne Clarkson PC, CC, CMM, COM, CD, FRSC(hon), FRAIC(hon), FRCPSC(hon), , , , , , , , , , , , (born 1939)	Journalist	7 October 1999	27 September 2005		Chrétien Martin
70	27	100px	Michaëlle Jean PC, CC, CMM, COM, CD, FRCPSC(hon), , , , , , , , , , , , , , (born 1957)	Journalist	27 September 2005	1 October 2010		Martin Harper
71	28		David Johnston PC, CC, CMM, COM, CD, FRSC(hon), FRCPSC(hon), , , , , , , , , , , , , (born 1941)	University administrator	1 October 2010	2 October 2017		Harper J. Trudeau
72	29	100px	Julie Payette CC, CMM, COM, OQ, CD, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (born 1963)	Astronaut, engineer	2 October 2017	22 January 2021		J. Trudeau
73	30	100px	Mary Simon CC, CMM, COM, OQ, CD, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (born 1947)	Broadcaster, diplomat	26 July 2021	incumbent		J. Trudeau

Living former governors general of Canada

As of December 2024, there are five living former governors general of Canada. The most recently deceased governor general, Roméo LeBlanc (1995–1999), died on 24 June 2009.

[[Ed Schreyer (3).jpg|center|border|180x180px|alt=|Edward Schreyer (1979–1984) (1935-12-21) 21 December 1935 ]] Edward Schreyer (1979–1984) (1935-12-21) 21 December 1935   [[GG-Adrienne Clarkson2.jpg|center|border|180x180px|alt=|Adrienne Clarkson (1999–2005) (1939-02-10) 10 February 1939 ]] Adrienne Clarkson (1999–2005) (1939-02-10) 10 February 1939   [[GG-Michaëlle Jean.jpg|center|border|180x180px|alt=|Michaëlle Jean (2005–2010) (1957-09-06) 6 September 1957 ]] Michaëlle Jean (2005–2010) (1957-09-06) 6 September 1957   [[David Johnston 2011-12-01.jpg|center|border|180x180px|alt=|David Johnston (2010–2017) (1945-10-27) 27 October 1945 ]] David Johnston (2010–2017) (1945-10-27) 27 October 1945   [[Julie Payette 2017.jpg|center|border|180x180px|alt=|Julie Payette (2017–2021) (1963-10-20) 20 October 1963 ]] Julie Payette (2017–2021) (1963-10-20) 20 October 1963

Administrators

Main article: Administrator of the Government of Canada

Chief Justice Lyman Duff was administrator of Canada in 1940.

The following is a list of Administrators of the Government, Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada who were acting governors appointed as the result of the death, resignation or prolonged absence of the sitting viceroy, or for any other reason:

1. Chief Justice Lyman Duff between the death of Lord Tweedsmuir and the arrival of Lord Athlone (February 11 to June 21, 1940);
2. Senior Puisne Justice Patrick Kerwin during the absence of Governor General Lord Alexander and Chief Justice Thibaudeau Rinfret (June 11 to August 2, 1951).
3. Chief Justice Thibaudeau Rinfret between the departure of the Lord Alexander and the installation of Vincent Massey (January 28 to February 28, 1952);
4. Chief Justice Robert Taschereau following the death of Georges Vanier to the installation of Roland Michener (March 5 to April 17, 1967);
5. Chief Justice Bora Laskin while Governor General Jules Léger was recovering from a stroke (July 2 to December 9, 1974);
6. Chief Justice Richard Wagner, from the resignation of Julie Payette to the installation of Mary Simon (January 23, 2021 to July 26, 2021).

See also

• Governors General of Canada timeline
• List of Canadian monarchs
• List of vicereines in Canada
• Viceregal consort of Canada
• Viceregal eponyms in Canada

External links

• Governor General of Canada > Former Governors General
• Department of Canadian Heritage > A Crown of Maples – Appendices > Governors/Governors General of Canada