Viceregal consort of Canada
The viceregal consort of Canada is the spouse of the serving governor general of Canada, assisting the viceroy with ceremonial and charitable work, accompanying him or her to official state occasions, and occasionally undertaking philanthropic work of their own. As the host/hostess of the royal and viceroyal residence in Ottawa, the consort, if female, is also known as the chatelaine of Rideau Hall. This individual, who ranks third in the Canadian order of precedence, after the Canadian monarch and the governor general, is addressed as His or Her Excellency while their spouse is in office, and is made ex officio an Extraordinary Companion (French: Compagnon Extraordinaire) of the Order of Canada and a Knight or Dame of Justice of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem.[1]
| Viceregal consort of Canada | |
|---|---|
| Style | His Excellency |
| Type | Spouse of the governor general of Canada |
| Residence | Rideau Hall |
| Website | Official website |
The present viceregal consort is Whit Fraser, the husband of Governor General Mary Simon, who took office on July 26, 2021.
Role edit
The position of the viceregal consort carries no official duties and receives no salary. However, consorts have held and do hold a prominent and visible position in the Canadian affairs of state, taking part in official occasions, such as the speech from the throne and Order of Canada investitures, and national celebrations, such as Canada Day events on Parliament Hill, as well as both welcoming foreign dignitaries to Canada and accompanying the governor general on state visits abroad. These practices evolved from the original role as the hostess of the royal and viceroyal residences in Ottawa (Rideau Hall) and Quebec City (La Citadelle), a tradition maintained only by female viceregal consorts, who oversee the planning of ceremonies and functions of state that take place at either of the official residences.[citation needed]
Over the course of the 20th century, it became increasingly common for viceregal consorts to select and pursue on their own initiative various charitable projects.[1] Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, whose husband served as governor general during the Second World War, volunteered her time to the war effort in Canada, especially women's organisations such as the Royal Canadian Air Force Women's Division. The activities chosen are typically apolitical and non-divisive. However, some consorts have stirred controversy through their work; Jean-Daniel Lafond, who promoted Canadian art—film in particular—and involved himself in the Francophone community, made a documentary while viceregal consort that attracted criticism from the National Post that Lafond had shown strong anti-Americanism and had been sympathetic to an admitted assassin.[2][3][4]
Only once has the title of Chatelaine of Rideau Hall been held by someone who was not the spouse of the governor general—as Vincent Massey was a widower, his daughter-in-law, Lilias Massey, held the title and performed the official duties of the chatelaine. Unlike a viceregal consort, however, Lilias Massey was not addressed as Her Excellency.[citation needed]
List of viceregal consorts edit
Viceregal consorts of New France, 1627–1760 edit
| # | Name | Dates | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hélène de Champlain (née Boullé)[5] | 1627–1635 | Samuel de Champlain |
| None | 1635–1648 | Charles de Montmagny | |
| 2 | Marie-Barbe d'Ailleboust (née de Boullongne)[6] | 1648–1651 | Louis d'Ailleboust de Coulonge |
| None[n 1] | 1651–1657 | Jean de Lauson | |
| None | 1658–1661 | Le vicomte de Mouzay | |
| None | 1661–1663 | Le baron d'Avaugour | |
| None | 1663–1665 | Augustin de Saffray de Mésy | |
| None | 1665–1672 | Daniel de Rémy de Courcelle | |
| 3 | La comtesse de Frontenac et de Palluau (née Anne de la Grange-Trianon)[n 2][8] | 1672–1682 | Le comte de Frontenac et de Palluau |
| 4 | Marie Mandat[n 3][9] | 1682–1685 | Joseph-Antoine de La Barre |
| 5 | La marquise de Denonville (née Catherine Courtin)[10] | 1685–1689 | Le marquis de Denonville |
| None | 1689–1698 | Le comte de Frontenac et de Palluau | |
| None | 1698–1703 | Louis-Hector de Callière | |
| 6 | La marquise de Vaudreuil (née Louise-Élisabeth de Joybert)[11] | 1703–1725 | Le marquis de Vaudreuil |
| 7 | La marquise de Beauharnois (née Renée Pays)[n 2][12] | 1725–1747 | Le marquis de Beauharnois |
| 8 | La marquise de La Galissonnière (née Marie-Catherine-Antoinette de Lauson)[n 3][13] | 1747–1749 | Le marquis de La Galissonnière |
| 9 | La marquise de la Jonquière (née Marie-Angélique de La Valette)[n 3][14] | 1749–1752 | Le marquis de la Jonquière |
| None | 1752–1755 | Le marquis du Quesne | |
| None | 1755–1760 | Le marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnal |
Viceregal consorts of British North America, 1760–1867 edit
| # | Name | Dates | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Lady Jane Amherst (née Dalison)[n 3][15] | 1760–1763 | Sir Jeffrey Amherst |
| 11 | Cordelia Murray (née Collier)[n 3][16] | 1764–1768 | James Murray |
| 12 | Lady Maria Carleton (née Howard)[n 3][17] | 1768–1778 | Sir Guy Carleton |
| None | 1778–1786 | Sir Frederick Haldimand | |
| 12 | The Lady Dorchester (previously Lady Maria Carleton)[n 3] | 1786–1796 | The Lord Dorchester |
| 13 | Unknown | 1796–1799 | Robert Prescott |
| 14 | Lady Charlotte Frances Milnes (née Bentinck)[18] | 1799–1805 | Sir Robert Shore Milnes |
| 15 | Lady Henriette Dunn (née Guichaud)[19] | 1805–1807 | Sir Thomas Dunn |
| None | 1807–1811 | Sir James Henry Craig | |
| 16 | Lady Catherine Anne Prévost (née Phipps)[20] | 1811–1815 | Sir George Prévost |
| 17 | Lady Margaret Drummond (née Russell)[n 3][21] | 1815–1816 | Sir Gordon Drummond |
| 18 | Lady Katherine Sherbrooke (née Pyndar)[22] | 1816–1818 | Sir John Coape Sherbrooke |
| 19 | The Duchess of Richmond (née Charlotte Gordon)[23] | 1818–1820 | The Duke of Richmond |
| 20 | The Countess of Dalhousie (née Christina Broun)[24] | 1820–1828 | The Earl of Dalhousie |
| None | 1828–1830 | Sir James Kempt | |
| 21 | The Lady Aylmer (née Louisa Anne Call)[25] | 1830–1835 | The Lord Aylmer |
| 22 | The Countess of Gosford (née Mary Sparrow)[26] | 1835–1837 | The Earl of Gosford |
| 23 | Lady Elizabeth Colborne (née Yonge)[27] | 1837–1838 | Sir John Colborne |
| 24 | The Countess of Durham (née Louisa Elizabeth Grey)[28] | 1838–1839 | The Earl of Durham |
| None | 1839–1941 | The Lord Sydenham | |
| 25 | Lady Mary Charlotte Anne Bagot (née Wellesley-Pole)[29] | 1842–1843 | Sir Charles Bagot |
| None | 1843–1845 | Sir Charles Metcalfe | |
| 26 | The Countess Cathcart (née Henrietta Mather)[n 3][30] | 1846–1847 | The Earl Cathcart |
| 27 | The Countess of Elgin and Kincardine (née Mary Lambton)[31] | 1847–1854 | The Earl of Elgin and Kincardine |
| 28 | Lady Anna Maria Head (née Yorke)[32] | 1854–1861 | Sir Edmund Walker Head |
| 29 | The Viscountess Monck (née Elizabeth Louise Mary Monck)[33] | 1861–1867 | The Viscount Monck |
Viceregal consorts of Canada, 1867–present edit
Canadian institutions established by viceregal consorts edit
- Lady Stanley Institute for Trained Nurses – The Countess of Derby
- Ottawa Maternity Hospital – The Marchioness of Aberdeen
- Victorian Order of Nurses – The Marchioness of Aberdeen[38]
- Lady Minto Hospital – The Countess of Minto
See also edit
Notes edit
- ^ Lauson's wife, Mariede Lauson (née Gaudar), died in France prior to the former's appointment as governor.[7]
- ^ a b The couple was separated during the governor's tenure.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i The governor's wife did not accompany him.
- ^ Massey's wife, Alice Massey (née Parkin), died prior to the former's appointment as governor general; his daughter-in-law, Lilias Massey, acted as Chatelaine of Rideau Hall.
- ^ Payette was divorced and had not remarried.
References edit
- ^ a b Office of the Governor General of Canada. "Role and Responsibilities > The Governor General and her spouse > Jean-Daniel Lafond > Role". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
- ^ . InformAction. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 2 October 2008.
- ^ "Lafond's new film hits hot buttons". CBC. 26 April 2006. Retrieved 2 October 2008.
- ^ Burrows, Michael (2 May 2006), , National Post, archived from the original on 10 December 2009, retrieved 10 January 2010
- ^ Chabot, O.S.U., Marie-Emmanuel (1979) [1966]. "Boullé, Hélène". In Brown, George Williams (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. I (1000–1700) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Daveluy, Marie-Claire (1979) [1966]. "Ailleboust de Coulogne et d'Argentenay, Louis d'". In Brown, George Williams (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. I (1000–1700) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Monet, J. (1979) [1966]. "Lauson, Jean de, (d. 1666)". In Brown, George Williams (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. I (1000–1700) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Eccles, W.J. (1979) [1966]. "Baude de Frontenac et de Palluau, Louis de". In Brown, George Williams (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. I (1000–1700) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ La Roque de Roquebrune, R. (1979) [1966]. "Le Febvre de la Barre, Joseph-Antoine". In Brown, George Williams (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. I (1000–1700) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Eccles, W.J. (1979) [1969]. "Brisay de Denonville, Jacques-René de, Marquis de Denonville". In Hayne, David (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. II (1701–1740) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Zoltvany, Yves F. (1979) [1969]. "Rigaud de Vaudreuil, Philippe de, Marquis de Vaudreuil". In Hayne, David (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. II (1701–1740) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Standen, S. Dale (1974). "Beauharnois de la Boische, Charles de, Marquis de Beauharnois". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. III (1741–1770) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Taillemite, Étienne (1974). "Barrin de La Galissonnière, Roland-Michel, Marquis de La Galissonnière". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. III (1741–1770) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Taillemite, Étienne (1974). "Taffanel de ls Jonquière, Jacqhes-Pierre de, Marquis de la Jonquière". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. III (1741–1770) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Stacey, C.P. (1979). "Amherst, Jeffert, 1st Baron Amherst". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. IV (1771–1800) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Browne, G.P. (1979). "Murray, James". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. IV (1771–1800) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Browne, G.P. (1983). "Carleton, Guy, 1st Baron Dorchester". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. V (1801–1820) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Wallot, Jean-Pierre (1988). "Milnes, Sir Robert Shore". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. VII (1836–1850) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Tousignant, Pierre; Wallot, Jean-Pierre (1983). "Dunn, Thomas". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. V (1801–1820) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Burroughs, Peter (1983). "Prevost, Sir George". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. V (1801–1820) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Stickney, Kenneth (1985). "Drummond, Sir Gordon". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. VIII (1851–1860) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Burroughs, Peter (1987). "Sherbrooke, Sir John Coape". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. VI (1821–1835) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Stanley, George F.G. (1983). "Lennox, Charles, 4th Duke of Richmond and Lennox". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. V (1801–1820) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Burroughs, Peter (1988). "Ramsay, George, 9th Earl of Dalhousie". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. VII (1836–1850) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Buckner, Phillip (1988). "Whitworth-Aylmer, Matthew, 5th Baron Aylmer". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. VII (1836–1850) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Buckner, Phillip (1988). "Acheson, Archibald, 2nd Earl of Gosford". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. VII (1836–1850) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Bélanger, Claude. "Sir John Colborne". Marianapolis College. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
- ^ Ouellet, Fernand (1988). "Lambton, John George, 1st Earl of Durham". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. VII (1836–1850) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Monet, Jacques (1988). "Bagot, Sir Charles". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. VII (1836–1850) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Cooke, O.A.; Hillmer, Norman (1985). "Cathcart, Charles Murray, 2nd Earl Cathcart". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. VIII (1851–1860) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Morton, W.L. (1976). "Bruce, James, 8th Earl of Elgin and 12th Earl of Kincardine". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. IX (1861–1870) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Gibson, James A. (1976). "Head, Sir Edmund Walker". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. IX (1861–1870) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Monet, Jacques (1990). "Monck, Charles Stanley, 4th Viscount Monck". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. XII (1891–1900) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Ward, C.P. (2000), "Young, Sir John [Baron Lisgar] (1807–1876)", in Australian National University (ed.), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 6, Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, retrieved 12 September 2010
- ^ Waite, P.B. (1994). "Stanley, Frederick Arthur, 1st Baron Stanley and 16th Earl of Derby". In Cook, Ramsay; Hamelin, Jean (eds.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. XIII (1901–1910) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Miller, Carman (1998). "Elliot, Gilbert John Murray-Kynynmound, Viscount Melgund and 4th Earl of Minto". In Cook, Ramsay; Hamelin, Jean (eds.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. XIV (1911–1920) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Miller, Carman (1998). "Grey, Albert Henry George, 4th Earl Grey". In Cook, Ramsay; Hamelin, Jean (eds.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. XIV (1911–1920) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Unless noted otherwise, source for information in this section is found in: Hubbard, R.H.; Rideau Hall; McGill-Queen’s University Press; Montreal and London; 1977
External links edit
- Official website