Canadian Governors-General Trivia Quiz

Answer: Viscount Monck

Monck (Governor-General 1867-68) had previously been Governor of the United Province of Canada (1861-67). He actively promoted Confederation and had his term extended in order that he could become Canada's first Governor-General. He has been called an "uncredited Father of Confederation".

Answer: Marquis of Lorne

The Marquis of Lorne (Governor-General, 1878-83) was married to Princess Louise, one of the daughters of Queen Victoria. Both Alberta (the province) and Lake Louise were named after her.

Answer: Duke of Connaught

Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught (Governor-General, 1911-1916). He was the third son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Groomed for the army, he had an impressive military career. He fist visited Canada in 1890 and Port Arthur (now Thunder Bay) was named after him.

He served as Governor-General during the First World War and helped to organize the second Canadian Expeditionary Force as well as the Canadian Patriotic Fund. His daugher, Princess Patricia, was the patron of the regiment now called the "Princess Pats".

Answer: Baron Tweedsmuir

Baron Tweedsmuir (Governor-General, 1935-40). Prior to his appointment as Governor-General, Lord Tweedsmuir, ss John Buchan, had a successful career as a mystery novellist. He wrote several bestsellers of which "Greenmantle" and "The Thirty-Nine Steps" are probably the best known.

Answer: Viscount Byng

Viscount Byng (Governor-General, 1921-26) was a popular military commander of the Canadian troops and his relationship with his troops led to his appointment as Governor-General. When he was created Viscount, he took the title Vimy in recognition of this battle.

Answer: Viscount Alexander of Tunis

Viscount Alexander of Tunis (Governor-General, 1946-52) was a noted military leader - and was Supreme Allied Commander in Italy during World War II. His term of office as Governor-General was extended twice. He was recalled to Britain to serve as Minister of Defence in the second Churchill government.

Answer: Viscount Byng

Viscount Byng (Governor-General, 1921-26). When the minority government of Mackenzie King requested a dissolution and new elections, Byng refused since the country had just undergone an election which had returned the minority government. He chose to request that the oppostion attempt to form a government. Arthur Meighen formed a government which was short-lived, and its fall resulted in the election which Mackenzie King had requested.

Answer: two

Baron Tweedsmuir who died as the result of a fall in 1940 and Georges Philias Vanier who died at 79 in 1967 as a result of the strains brought on by the Centennial celebrations.

Answer: four

Marquis of Willingdon (Governor General, 1926-31); Earl of Minto (Governor-General, 1898-1904); Earl of Dufferin (Governor-General, 1872-78) and the Marquis of Lansdowne (Governor-General, 1883-88).

Answer: Vincent Massey

Vincent Massey, (Governor-General, 1952-1959) brother of actor Raymond Massey and scion of the farm machinery family, was a noted diplomat (first High Commissioner to the United Kingdom) and first Canadian Minister in Washington.

Answer: Major-General Georges-Philias Vanier

Major-General Georges-Philias Vanier (Governor-General, 1959-67). In addition to a distinguished military career, Vanier was also a diplomat, being the Canadian ambassador to France until its fall in 1940. He returned as ambassador at the end of the war.

Answer: Earl of Athlone

Earl of Athlone (Governor-General, 1940-1946). In addition to being the great-grandson of King George III, an honour he shared with a previous Governor-General, the Duke of Connaught, he was the brother of Queen Mary, consort of King George V. His appointment in 1940 was the second time he had been appointed.

The first was in 1914 but he refused due to his desire to serve actively during the First World War. He came to Canada after successfuly serving for seven years as the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa.

He was the second member of the Royal Family to hold the post.

Answer: Duke of Devonshire

Duke of Devonshire (Governor-General, 1916-1921). One of the largest landowners in the UK, the Duke of Devonshire was familiar with Canada since he was the son-in-law of a former Governor-General, Lord Lansdowne. He interested himself in Canada's economic development as well as land use and farming. His daughter married Captain Harold Macmillan, later Prime Minister, in 1921.

Answer: Earl of Bessborough

Bessborough (Governor-General, 1931-1935) actively served in France and at Gallipoli during the First World War. His swearing in ceremony, in Halifax, was the first such ceremony to be aired (by radio) throughout Canada.

Answer: Roland Michener

Roland Michener (Governor-General, 1967-74) was an active Progressive Conservative member prior to being elected Speaker of the House of Commons. He was appointed by the Liberal government as High Commissioner and later as Governor-General. Retiring from politics after his appointment he became an active supporter of physical fitness for senior citizens, jogging well into his 80's.

A mountain was named after him and he climbed it at 80.