Lieutenant General of New France was the title of a French official who governed early New France (including the colonies of Canada and Acadia) from 1598 until 1627. Before 1598, the post was briefly occupied from 1541 to 1543. It was the first vice-regal post in what would later become Canada, and it was a precursor of the modern-day office of Governor General of Canada, the representative of King Charles III, Canada's king and head of state.
Most holders of the title never set foot in New France, except for Jean-François de la Rocque de Roberval and Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons. The others served in the post from the comfort of the Kingdom of France. The title was replaced in 1627 by the post of Governor of New France.
Office HolderTermAppointed byJean-François de la Rocque de Roberval1541–1543 Francis Ivacant1543–1598 during reigns of Francis I, Henry II, Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry IIITroilus de Mesqouez 1598–1603Morris, Richard Brandon (ed.) (1970 rev.) Encyclopedia of American History Harper and Row, New York, p. 59;Harrisse, Henry (1872) Notes pour servir à l'histoire, à la bibliographie et àla cartographie de la Nouvelle-France et des pays adjacents, 1545-1700. Tross, Paris, p. 14; Henry IIIPierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons 1603–1610 Henry IVCharles de Bourbon, comte de Soissons 1611–1612 Louis XIII (Marie de' Medici in regency)Henri II, Prince of Condé1612–1616 Louis XIII (Marie de' Medici in regency)Pons de Lauzière, Marquis de Thémines de Cardillac 1616–1620Louis XIII (Marie de' Medici in regency)Henri II, Prince of Condé1620Louis XIIIHenri de Montmorency, 4th Duke of Montmorency1620–1625 Louis XIIIHenri de Lévis, 3rd Duke of Ventadour1625–1626 Louis XIIICardinal Richelieu 1626–1627Louis XIII
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