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.

Lieutenant General/Viceroy of New France, 1541–1627

Governors of New France, 1627–1663

Governors general of New France, 1663–1760

Governors of the Province of Quebec, 1760–1786

Following the Seven Years' War, control passed from France to Great Britain in the terms of the Treaty of Paris, creating the British Province of Quebec. Governors subsequently served under the British monarchy.

Governors general of the Canadas/British North America, 1786–1841

Governors general of the Province of Canada, 1841–1867

Governors general of Canada, 1867–present

Administrators

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, prolonged absence of the sitting viceroy, or for any other reason:
  1. Chief Justice Sir Lyman Duff, between the death of Lord Tweedsmuir and the arrival of Lord Athlone ;
  2. Senior Puisne Justice Patrick Kerwin, during the absence of Governor General Lord Alexander and Chief Justice Thibaudeau Rinfret.
  3. Chief Justice Thibaudeau Rinfret, from the departure of the Lord Alexander to the installation of Vincent Massey ;
  4. Chief Justice Robert Taschereau, from the death of Georges Vanier to the installation of Roland Michener ;
  5. Chief Justice Bora Laskin, while Governor General Jules Léger was recovering from a stroke ;
  6. Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, while Governor General Adrienne Clarkson was hospitalized ;.
  7. Chief Justice Richard Wagner, from the resignation of Julie Payette to the installation of Mary Simon.