Since the establishment of Saskatchewan and Alberta from the Territories' most populated regions, the territory had no lieutenant governor. Instead, a commissioner represents the federal government and acts as the de facto representative of the King. Yukon was carved out of the North-West Territories in 1898 and has had its own commissioners since then.
Lieutenant governors of the North-West Territories
^Was unable to enter the North-West Territories, but returned to Ottawa, and campaigned against Manitoba becoming a province. He was listed as leader of the provisional North-West Territories government until Adams G. Archibald took over on May 10, 1870.