Léger, Jules, << lay ZHAY, zhool >> (1913-1980), was governor general of Canada from 1974 to 1979. During his term, Léger devoted much time to strengthening relations between French- and English-speaking Canadians. He also worked to promote Canadian culture. Despite suffering a stroke early in his term, Léger traveled widely to meet with cultural and volunteer organizations.
Léger was born on April 14, 1913, in St.-Anicet, Quebec, near Montreal. He studied law at the Université de Montréal (University of Montreal) and literature at the Université de Paris (University of Paris). Léger then taught diplomatic history at the University of Ottawa during the late 1930’s and joined the Canadian foreign service in 1940. He became the Canadian ambassador to Mexico in 1953, and later served as ambassador to Italy, France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Léger was undersecretary of external affairs from 1954 to 1958 and undersecretary of state from 1968 to 1973. He died on Nov. 22, 1980.
