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On March 26, 1663, Bishop François de Laval (1623-1708) founded Séminaire de Québec, the predecessor to Université Laval. Official approval was granted by King Louis XIV in April of the same year.

In 1852, the Seminary was granted a royal charter to establish Université Laval, with the ability to confer university degrees. Since then, 26 different rectors have led Université Laval.

Note that from 1852 to 1970, the roles of university rector and superior general of the Seminary were filled by the same person.

Université Laval rectors since 1852

Mgr Louis-Albert Vachon

19th
1960-1972

Mgr Alphonse-Marie Parent

18th
1954-1960

Mgr Ferdinand Vandry

17th
1945-1954

Mgr Cyrille Gagnon

16th
1943-1945

Mgr Alexandre Vachon

15th
1939-1940

Mgr Arthur Robert

14th
1938-1939

Mgr Philéas-J. Filion

13th
1929-1932

Mgr Camille Roy

12th
1924-1927
1929 (February to June)
1932-1938
1940-1943

Mgr Charles-Napoléon Gariépy

11th
1921-1924

Abbé Pierre Hébert

10th
1921

Mgr François Pelletier

9th
1915-1921

Mgr Amédée-E. Gosselin

8th
1909-1915
1927-1929

Mgr Olivier-E. Mathieu

7th
1899-1908

Mgr J.-Clovis-K. Laflamme

6th
1893-1899
1908-1909

Mgr Benjamin Paquet

5th
1887-1893

Mgr Thomas-Étienne Hamel

4th
1871-1880
1883-1886

Mgr Michel-Édouard Méthot

3rd
1866-1869
1880-1883
1886-1887

Abbé Elzéar-Alexandre Taschereau

2nd
1860-1866
1869-1871

Mgr Louis-Jacques Casault

1st
1852-1860

* Note: François Tavenas ended his term as rector on July 5, 2002. In accordance with Section 146 of Université Laval’s bylaws, Executive Vice Rector Claude Godbout assumed the powers and function of rector on an interim basis from July 5 until October 15, 2002, the date on which Michel Pigeon was elected as 24th rector of Université Laval.