Governor General of Canada: Difference between revisions

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The current monarch appoints the Governor General, but, in practice, monarchs always defer to the advice of the [[Prime Minister]].
The current monarch appoints the Governor General, but, in practice, monarchs always defer to the advice of the [[Prime Minister]].


Unlike the [[United States of America]], Canada's evolution to full sovereignty has been gradual.  Originally the recommendation as to who should be the next Governor General was made in the [[United Kingdom]], by the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]].  More recently the recommendation has been made by the [[Prime Minister of Canada]].
Unlike the [[United States of America]], Canada's evolution to full sovereignty has been gradual.  Originally the recommendation as to who should be the next Governor General was made in the [[United Kingdom]], by the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]].  16 of the first 17 Governors General were members of the [[UK House of Lords]], while the other was a Prince. 
 
More recently the recommendation has been made by the [[Prime Minister of Canada]], and the Governors General recommended by them, starting with [[Vincent Massey]],  have all been prominent Canadians.


==Governors general of Canada, 1867–present==
==Governors general of Canada, 1867–present==
{{main|Governor General of Canada}}


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|+ Governors general of Canada, 1867–present
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Revision as of 01:06, 4 January 2024

Canada is a Constitutional monarchy, and the Governor General of Canada is delegated to act as the de facto Head of State, on behalf of the actual head of State, the current monarch.

The current monarch appoints the Governor General, but, in practice, monarchs always defer to the advice of the Prime Minister.

Unlike the United States of America, Canada's evolution to full sovereignty has been gradual. Originally the recommendation as to who should be the next Governor General was made in the United Kingdom, by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. 16 of the first 17 Governors General were members of the UK House of Lords, while the other was a Prince.

More recently the recommendation has been made by the Prime Minister of Canada, and the Governors General recommended by them, starting with Vincent Massey, have all been prominent Canadians.

Governors general of Canada, 1867–present

Governors general of Canada, 1867–present
No. Portrait Name Term of office
Took office Left office
1 GG-Charles Monck.jpg The Viscount Monck 1867-07-01 1868-11-14
2 GG-John Young.jpg The Lord Lisgar 1868-11-14 1872-06-25
3 GG-Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood.jpg The Earl of Dufferin 1872-06-25 1878-11-25
4 GG-John Campbell.jpg John Campbell, Marquess of Lorne 1878-11-25 1883-10-23
5 GG-Henry Petty-FitzMaurice.jpg The Marquess of Lansdowne 1883-10-23 1888-06-11
6 GG-Frederick Stanley.jpg The Lord Stanley of Preston 1888-06-11 1893-09-18
7 John Hamilton Gordon Earl of Aberdeen 1884.jpg The Earl of Aberdeen 1893-09-18 1898-11-02
8 GG-Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound.jpg The Earl of Minto 1898-11-12 1904-12-10
9 GG-Albert Grey.jpg The Earl Grey 1904-12-10 1911-10-13
10 GG-Prince Arthur.jpg Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn 1911-10-13 1916-11-11
11 GG-Victor Cavendish.jpg The Duke of Devonshire 1916-11-11 1921-08-11
12 GG-Julian Byng.jpg The Viscount Byng of Vimy 1921-08-11 1926-10-02
13 GG-Freeman Freeman-Thomas.jpg The Marquess of Willingdon 1926-10-02 1931-04-04
14 GG-Vere Ponsonby.jpg The Earl of Bessborough 1931-04-04 1935-11-02
15 GG-John Buchan.jpg The Lord Tweedsmuir 1935-11-02 1940-02-11
16 GG-Alexander Cambridge.jpg The Earl of Athlone 1940-02-11 1946-04-12
17 GG-Harold Alexander.jpg The Viscount Alexander of Tunis 1946-04-12 1952-01-18
18 Governor General Vincent Massey (cropped).jpg Vincent Massey 1952-01-18 1959-09-15
19 GG-Vanier.jpg Georges Vanier 1959-09-15 1967-03-05
20 Governor General Roland Michener at Alma College graduation ceremonies 1972 (crop).jpg Roland Michener 1967-04-17 1974-01-14
21 Jules Léger 1974-01-14 1979-01-22
22 Ed Schreyer (3).jpg Edward Schreyer 1979-01-22 1984-05-14
23 Jeanne Sauvé 1984 Ottawa Canada (crop).jpg Jeanne Sauvé 1984-05-14 1990-01-29
24 Ray Hnatyshyn 1990-01-29 1995-02-08
25 Roméo LeBlanc 1995-02-08 1999-10-07
26 GG-Adrienne Clarkson2.jpg Adrienne Clarkson 1999-10-07 2005-09-27
27 GG-Michaëlle Jean.jpg Michaëlle Jean 2005-09-27 2010-10-01
28 David Johnston 2011-12-01.jpg David Johnston 2010-10-01 2017-10-02
29 Julie Payette 2017.jpg Julie Payette 2017-10-02 2021-01-22
30 Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada.jpg Mary Simon 2021-07-26 Incumbent