<P> Listed here are the monarchs who reigned over the French and British colonies of Canada , followed by the British Dominion of Canada , and finally the present - day sovereign state of Canada . The date of the first claim by a monarch over Canada varies , with most sources giving the year as 1497 , when John Cabot made landfall somewhere on the North American coast ( likely either modern - day Newfoundland or Nova Scotia ) , and claimed the land for England on behalf of King Henry VII . However , some sources instead put this date at 1534 when the word `` Canada '' was first used to refer to the French colony of Canada , which was founded in the name of King Francis I. Monarchical governance subsequently evolved under a continuous succession of French , British , and eventually uniquely Canadian sovereigns . Since the first claim by Henry VII , there have been 33 sovereigns of Canada , including two sets of co-sovereigns . </P>
<P> Listed here are the monarchs who reigned over the French and British colonies of Canada , followed by the British Dominion of Canada , and finally the present - day sovereign state of Canada . The date of the first claim by a monarch over Canada varies , with most sources giving the year as 1497 , when John Cabot made landfall somewhere on the North American coast ( likely either modern - day Newfoundland or Nova Scotia ) , and claimed the land for England on behalf of King Henry VII . However , some sources instead put this date at 1534 when the word `` Canada '' was first used to refer to the French colony of Canada , which was founded in the name of King Francis I. Monarchical governance subsequently evolved under a continuous succession of French , British , and eventually uniquely Canadian sovereigns . Since the first claim by Henry VII , there have been 33 sovereigns of Canada , including two sets of co-sovereigns . </P>
who was the british monarch when canada became a country
who was the british monarch when canada became a country
King Henry VII .
King Henry VII .