# List of lieutenant governors of Ontario

The following is a list of lieutenant governors of Ontario and the lieutenant governors of the former colony of Upper Canada. The office of Lieutenant Governor of Ontario was created in 1867, when the Province of Ontario was created upon Confederation. The predecessor office, lieutenant governor of Upper Canada, was a British colonial officer, appointed by the British government to administer the government of the colony, from 1791 to 1841. (Prior to 1791, the territory which is now Ontario was part of the old Province of Quebec, which was administered by the colonial governors of the Province of Quebec.)
In 1841, the two provinces of Upper Canada and Lower Canada were abolished and merged into the new Province of Canada, with a single Parliament and Governor General. Upper Canada was known as Canada West, but did not have a separate government or lieutenant governor. It was simply an administrative division of the Province of Canada.
Prior to Confederation, the lieutenant governors of Upper Canada were either British colonial administrators or British Army officers. The first lieutenant governor of Ontario, General Sir Henry William Stisted, was the last British lieutenant governor. From 1868 onwards, only Canadians were appointed to the position.

## Lieutenant governors of Upper Canada, 1791–1841

| No. | Portrait | Name (birth–death) | Term of office | Term of office | Monarch Reign |
| No. | Portrait | Name (birth–death) | Took office | Left office | Monarch Reign |
| 1 | | John Graves Simcoe (1752–1806) | 1791 | 1798 | George III (1760–1820) |
| – | | Peter Russell (1733–1808) Administrator of the Government | 1796 | 1799 | George III (1760–1820) |
| 2 | | Peter Hunter (1746–1805) | 1799 | 1805 | George III (1760–1820) |
| – | | Alexander Grant (1734–1813) Administrator of the Government | 1805 | 1806 | George III (1760–1820) |
| 3 | | Francis Gore (1769–1852) | 1806 | 1817 | George III (1760–1820) |
| – | | Sir Isaac Brock KB (1769–1812) Acting | 1811 | 1812 | George III (1760–1820) |
| – | | Sir Roger Hale Sheaffe 1st Baronet (1763–1851) Acting | 1812 | 1813 | George III (1760–1820) |
| – | | Sir Francis de Rottenburg Baron of Rottenburg (1757–1832) Acting | 1813 | 1813 | George III (1760–1820) |
| – | | Sir Gordon Drummond (1772–1854) Acting | 1813 | 1814 | George III (1760–1820) |
| – | | Sir George Murray GCB, GCH (1772–1846) Acting | 1815 | 1815 | George III (1760–1820) |
| – | | Sir Frederick Philipse Robinson KCB, GCH (1763–1852) Acting | 1815 | 1815 | George III (1760–1820) |
| – | | Samuel Smith (1756–1826) Administrator of the Government | 1817 | 1818 | George III (1760–1820) |
| 4 | | Sir Peregrine Maitland KCB, GCH (1777–1854) | 1818 | 1828 | George III (1760–1820) |
| 4 | | Sir Peregrine Maitland KCB, GCH (1777–1854) | 1818 | 1828 | George IV (1820–1830) |
| 5 | | Sir John Colborne GCB, GCMG (1778–1863) | 1828 | 1836 | George IV (1820–1830) |
| 5 | | Sir John Colborne GCB, GCMG (1778–1863) | 1828 | 1836 | William IV (1830–1837) |
| 6 | | Sir Francis Bond Head KCH (1778–1863) | 1836 | 1838 | William IV (1830–1837) |
| 6 | | Sir Francis Bond Head KCH (1778–1863) | 1836 | 1838 | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| 7 | | Sir George Arthur KCH (1778–1863) | 1838 | 1839 | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| 8 | | Charles Poulett Thomson 1st Baron Sydenham PC (1799–1841) | 1839 | 1841 | Victoria (1837–1901) |

## Lieutenant governors of Ontario, 1867–present

| No. | Portrait | Name (birth–death) | Term of office | Term of office | Monarch Reign | Premier Tenure |
| No. | Portrait | Name (birth–death) | Took office | Left office | Monarch Reign | Premier Tenure |
| 1 | | Henry William Stisted CB (1817–1875) | 1 July 1867 | 14 July 1868 | Victoria (1837–1901) | John Sandfield Macdonald (1867–1871) |
| 2 | | William Pearce Howland PC (1811–1907) | 15 July 1868 | 11 November 1873 | Victoria (1837–1901) | John Sandfield Macdonald (1867–1871) |
| 2 | | William Pearce Howland PC (1811–1907) | 15 July 1868 | 11 November 1873 | Victoria (1837–1901) | Edward Blake (1871–1872) |
| 2 | | William Pearce Howland PC (1811–1907) | 15 July 1868 | 11 November 1873 | Victoria (1837–1901) | Sir Oliver Mowat (1872–1896) |
| 3 | | John Willoughby Crawford QC (1817–1875) | 12 November 1873 | 13 May 1875 | Victoria (1837–1901) | Sir Oliver Mowat (1872–1896) |
| – | | Sir William Buell Richards PC (1815–1889) Administrator of the Government | 13 May 1875 | 18 May 1875 | Victoria (1837–1901) | Sir Oliver Mowat (1872–1896) |
| 4 | | Donald Alexander Macdonald PC (1817–1896) | 18 May 1875 | 30 June 1880 | Victoria (1837–1901) | Sir Oliver Mowat (1872–1896) |
| 5 | | John Beverley Robinson (1821–1896) | 1 July 1880 | 31 May 1887 | Victoria (1837–1901) | Sir Oliver Mowat (1872–1896) |
| 6 | | Sir Alexander Campbell PC, KCMG, QC (1822–1892) | 1 June 1887 | 24 May 1892 | Victoria (1837–1901) | Sir Oliver Mowat (1872–1896) |
| – | | John Hawkins Hagarty (1816–1900) Administrator of the Government | 24 May 1892 | 30 May 1892 | Victoria (1837–1901) | Sir Oliver Mowat (1872–1896) |
| 7 | | George Airey Kirkpatrick PC, QC (1841–1899) | 30 May 1892 | 7 November 1896 | Victoria (1837–1901) | Sir Oliver Mowat (1872–1896) |
| 7 | | George Airey Kirkpatrick PC, QC (1841–1899) | 30 May 1892 | 7 November 1896 | Victoria (1837–1901) | Arthur Sturgis Hardy (1896–1899) |
| – | | Sir Casimir Gzowski KCMG (1813–1898) Administrator of the Government | {7 November 1896 | 18 November 1897 | Victoria (1837–1901) | Arthur Sturgis Hardy (1896–1899) |
| 8 | | Sir Oliver Mowat PC, GCMG, QC (1820–1903) | 18 November 1897 | 19 April 1903 | Victoria (1837–1901) | Arthur Sturgis Hardy (1896–1899) |
| 8 | | Sir Oliver Mowat PC, GCMG, QC (1820–1903) | 18 November 1897 | 19 April 1903 | Victoria (1837–1901) | Sir George William Ross (1899–1905) |
| 8 | | Sir Oliver Mowat PC, GCMG, QC (1820–1903) | 18 November 1897 | 19 April 1903 | Edward VII (1901–1910) | Sir George William Ross (1899–1905) |
| – | | Sir Charles Moss (1840–1912) Administrator of the Government | 19 April 1903 | 21 April 1903 | Edward VII (1901–1910) | Sir George William Ross (1899–1905) |
| 9 | | Sir William Mortimer Clark KCMG, KC (1836–1915) | 21 April 1903 | 21 September 1908 | Edward VII (1901–1910) | Sir George William Ross (1899–1905) |
| 9 | | Sir William Mortimer Clark KCMG, KC (1836–1915) | 21 April 1903 | 21 September 1908 | Edward VII (1901–1910) | Sir James Whitney (1905–1914) |
| 10 | | Sir John Morison Gibson KCMG, KC (1842–1929) | 21 September 1908 | 26 September 1914 | Edward VII (1901–1910) | Sir James Whitney (1905–1914) |
| 10 | | Sir John Morison Gibson KCMG, KC (1842–1929) | 21 September 1908 | 26 September 1914 | George V (1910–1936) | Sir James Whitney (1905–1914) |
| 11 | | Sir John Strathearn Hendrie KCMG, CVO (1857–1923) | 26 September 1914 | 20 November 1919 | George V (1910–1936) | Sir William Howard Hearst (1914–1919) |
| 11 | | Sir John Strathearn Hendrie KCMG, CVO (1857–1923) | 26 September 1914 | 20 November 1919 | George V (1910–1936) | Ernest Charles Drury (1919–1923) |
| 12 | | Lionel Herbert Clarke (1859–1921) | 20 November 1919 | 29 August 1921 | George V (1910–1936) | Ernest Charles Drury (1919–1923) |
| – | | Sir William Ralph Meredith QC (1840–1923) Administrator of the Government | 29 August 1921 | 10 September 1921 | George V (1910–1936) | Ernest Charles Drury (1919–1923) |
| 13 | | Henry Cockshutt (1868–1944) | 10 September 1921 | 12 January 1927 | George V (1910–1936) | Ernest Charles Drury (1919–1923) |
| 13 | | Henry Cockshutt (1868–1944) | 10 September 1921 | 12 January 1927 | George V (1910–1936) | Howard Ferguson (1923–1930) |
| 14 | | William Donald Ross (1869–1947) | 12 January 1927 | 25 October 1931 | George V (1910–1936) | Howard Ferguson (1923–1930) |
| 14 | | William Donald Ross (1869–1947) | 12 January 1927 | 25 October 1931 | George V (1910–1936) | George Stewart Henry (1930–1934) |
| – | | Sir William Mulock PC, KCMG (1843–1944) Administrator of the Government | 25 October 1931 | 1 November 1932 | George V (1910–1936) | George Stewart Henry (1930–1934) |
| 15 | | Herbert Alexander Bruce (1868–1963) | 1 November 1932 | 23 November 1937 | George V (1910–1936) | George Stewart Henry (1930–1934) |
| 15 | | Herbert Alexander Bruce (1868–1963) | 1 November 1932 | 23 November 1937 | George V (1910–1936) | Mitchell Hepburn (1934–1942) |
| 15 | | Herbert Alexander Bruce (1868–1963) | 1 November 1932 | 23 November 1937 | Edward VIII (1936) | Mitchell Hepburn (1934–1942) |
| 15 | | Herbert Alexander Bruce (1868–1963) | 1 November 1932 | 23 November 1937 | George VI (1936–1952) | Mitchell Hepburn (1934–1942) |
| 16 | | Albert Edward Matthews (1873–1949) | 23 November 1937 | 26 December 1946 | George VI (1936–1952) | Mitchell Hepburn (1934–1942) |
| 16 | | Albert Edward Matthews (1873–1949) | 23 November 1937 | 26 December 1946 | George VI (1936–1952) | Gordon Daniel Conant (1942–1943) |
| 16 | | Albert Edward Matthews (1873–1949) | 23 November 1937 | 26 December 1946 | George VI (1936–1952) | Harry Nixon (1943) |
| 16 | | Albert Edward Matthews (1873–1949) | 23 November 1937 | 26 December 1946 | George VI (1936–1952) | George A. Drew (1943–1948) |
| 17 | | Ray Lawson OBE (1886–1980) | 26 December 1946 | 18 February 1952 | George VI (1936–1952) | George A. Drew (1943–1948) |
| 17 | | Ray Lawson OBE (1886–1980) | 26 December 1946 | 18 February 1952 | George VI (1936–1952) | Thomas Laird Kennedy (1948–1949) |
| 17 | | Ray Lawson OBE (1886–1980) | 26 December 1946 | 18 February 1952 | George VI (1936–1952) | Leslie Frost (1949–1961) |
| 17 | | Ray Lawson OBE (1886–1980) | 26 December 1946 | 18 February 1952 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | Leslie Frost (1949–1961) |
| 18 | | Louis Orville Breithaupt (1890–1960) | 18 February 1952 | 30 December 1957 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | Leslie Frost (1949–1961) |
| 19 | | John Keiller MacKay OC, DSO, VD, QC (1880–1970) | 30 December 1957 | 1 May 1963 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | Leslie Frost (1949–1961) |
| 19 | | John Keiller MacKay OC, DSO, VD, QC (1880–1970) | 30 December 1957 | 1 May 1963 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | John Robarts (1961–1971) |
| 20 | | William Earl Rowe PC (1894–1984) | 1 May 1963 | 4 July 1968 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | John Robarts (1961–1971) |
| 21 | | William Ross Macdonald PC, OC, CD, QC (1891–1976) | 4 July 1968 | 10 April 1974 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | John Robarts (1961–1971) |
| 21 | | William Ross Macdonald PC, OC, CD, QC (1891–1976) | 4 July 1968 | 10 April 1974 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | Bill Davis (1971–1985) |
| 22 | | Pauline Mills McGibbon OC (1910–2001) | 10 April 1974 | 15 September 1980 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | Bill Davis (1971–1985) |
| 23 | | John Black Aird OC, QC (1923–1995) | 15 September 1980 | 20 September 1985 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | Bill Davis (1971–1985) |
| 23 | | John Black Aird OC, QC (1923–1995) | 15 September 1980 | 20 September 1985 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | Frank Miller (1985) |
| 23 | | John Black Aird OC, QC (1923–1995) | 15 September 1980 | 20 September 1985 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | David Peterson (1985–1990) |
| 24 | | Lincoln Alexander PC, OOnt, CD, QC (1922–2012) | 20 September 1985 | 10 December 1991 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | David Peterson (1985–1990) |
| 24 | | Lincoln Alexander PC, OOnt, CD, QC (1922–2012) | 20 September 1985 | 10 December 1991 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | Bob Rae (1990–1995) |
| 25 | | Hal Jackman CM (born 1932) | 11 December 1991 | 24 January 1997 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | Bob Rae (1990–1995) |
| 25 | | Hal Jackman CM (born 1932) | 11 December 1991 | 24 January 1997 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | Mike Harris (1995–2002) |
| 26 | | Hilary Weston OOnt (born 1942) | 24 January 1997 | 7 March 2002 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | Mike Harris (1995–2002) |
| 27 | | James Bartleman OOnt (1939–2023) | 7 March 2002 | 5 September 2007 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | Mike Harris (1995–2002) |
| 27 | | James Bartleman OOnt (1939–2023) | 7 March 2002 | 5 September 2007 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | Ernie Eves (2002–2003) |
| 27 | | James Bartleman OOnt (1939–2023) | 7 March 2002 | 5 September 2007 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | Dalton McGuinty (2003–2013) |
| 28 | | David Onley OOnt (1950–2023) | 5 September 2007 | 23 September 2014 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | Dalton McGuinty (2003–2013) |
| 28 | | David Onley OOnt (1950–2023) | 5 September 2007 | 23 September 2014 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | Kathleen Wynne (2013–2018) |
| 29 | | Elizabeth Dowdeswell OC, OOnt (born 1944) | 23 September 2014 | 14 November 2023 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | Kathleen Wynne (2013–2018) |
| 29 | | Elizabeth Dowdeswell OC, OOnt (born 1944) | 23 September 2014 | 14 November 2023 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | Doug Ford (since 2018) |
| 29 | | Elizabeth Dowdeswell OC, OOnt (born 1944) | 23 September 2014 | 14 November 2023 | Charles III (since 2022) | Doug Ford (since 2018) |
| 30 | | Edith Dumont OOnt (born 1964) | 14 November 2023 | | Charles III (since 2022) | Doug Ford (since 2018) |
| Source: |||||||