Sir David Kirke, also spelled David Ker, was an adventurer, privateer and colonial governor. He is best known for his successful capture of Québec in 1629 during the Anglo-French War and his subsequent governorship of lands in Newfoundland. A favourite of Charles I, Kirke's downfall came with that of the Crown during the English Civil War and it is believed he died in prison.

The Anglo-French War was a military conflict fought between the Kingdom of France and the Kingdom of England between 1627 and 1629. It mainly involved actions at sea. The centrepiece of the conflict was the siege of La Rochelle (1627–28), in which the English Crown supported the French Huguenots in their fight against the French royal forces of Louis XIII of France. La Rochelle had become the stronghold of the French Huguenots, under its own governance. It was the centre of Huguenot seapower and the strongest centre of resistance against the central government. The English also launched a campaign against France's new colony in North America which led to the capture of Quebec.