Since Confederation on July 1, 1867, 29 people have held the office of Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
Unlike today’s Lieutenant Governors, early representatives of the Crown had an active role in the administration of public affairs until the emergence of responsible government in Canada in 1848.
Proclaimed into law on February 10, 1841, the Act of Union, 1840 (PDF, 6 MB) joined Upper Canada and Lower Canada to form the united Province of Canada. The Sovereign’s representative was the Governor General. In between successive Governors General, an Administrator was empowered to carry on the Government.
The Viscount Monck, the last Governor General of the Province of Canada, became the first Governor General of Canada upon Confederation in 1867.
The Right Honourable Charles Monck, Viscount Monck | 1861–1867 |
The Right Honourable Charles Monck, Viscount Monck (Administrator) | 1861 |
Sir Edmund Walker Head | 1854–1861 |
The Right Honourable James Bruce, Earl of Elgin and Kincardine | 1847–1854 |
General the Right Honourable Charles Cathcart, Earl Cathcart | 1846–1847 |
General the Right Honourable Charles Cathcart, Earl Cathcart (Administrator) | 1845–1846 |
The Right Honourable Sir Charles Metcalfe, Lord Metcalfe | 1843–1845 |
Sir Charles Bagot | 1842–1843 |
Lieutenant-General Sir Richard Downes Jackson (Administrator) | 1841–1842 |
The Right Honourable Charles Poullet Thompson, Baron Sydenham | 1841 |
The Constitutional Act, 1791 (PDF, 5.6 MB) divided the Province of Quebec into the provinces of Upper Canada and Lower Canada as of December 26, 1791. In Upper Canada, the Sovereign was represented by a Lieutenant Governor. In between successive Lieutenant Governors, an Administrator was empowered to carry on the Government.
The Right Honourable Charles Poullet Thompson, Baron Sydenham | 1839–1841 |
Major-General Sir George Arthur | 1838–1839 |
Sir Francis Bond Head | 1836–1838 |
Major-General Sir John Colborne | 1828–1836 |
Major-General Sir Peregrine Maitland | 1818–1828 |
Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable Samuel Smith (Administrator) | 1817–1818 |
Major Francis Gore | 1806–1817 |
Major-General Sir Frederick Phipps Robinson (Provisional Lieutenant Governor) |
1815 |
Major General Sir George Murray (Provisional Lieutenant Governor) | 1815 |
Lieutenant-General Sir Gordon Drummond (Provisional Lieutenant Governor) | 1813–1814 |
Major-General the Honourable Francis de Rottenburg (Provisional Lieutenant Governor) | 1813 |
Major-General Sir Roger Hale Sheaffe (Administrator) | 1812–1813 |
Major-General the Honourable Sir Isaac Brock (Administrator) | 1811–1812 |
The Honourable Alexander Grant (Administrator) | 1805–1806 |
Lieutenant-General Peter Hunter | 1799–1805 |
The Honourable Peter Russell (Administrator) | 1796–1799 |
Major-General John Graves Simcoe | 1791–1796 |