In the 1790s, as a powerful new country consolidated itself to the south, the British colony of Upper Canada faced what today we would call an existential crisis. When John Graves Simcoe, after whom Monday’s civic holiday in Toronto is named, arrived in the colony in 1792 his over-riding concern as Lieutenant Governor was defence against the United States. He was right to be concerned. Upper Canada had a population of only 14,000 versus neighbouring New York state’s 340,000.
Simcoe’s first action was to move the capital from Newark to the new community of York . That done, military roads were required: one north to connect the upper and lower Great Lakes and one southwest, a great military road to connect the Port of Toronto with the Thames River and Detroit, which was still a British possession. In all these actions, Simcoe was supported by British secretary of war, Henry Dundas, right-hand-man to Prime Minister William Pitt.
History proved that Simcoe was right to be concerned about American invasion. Less than two decades after Simcoe’s departure from muddy York the Americans invaded Upper Canada. In April 1813 a large military force landed west of York. Supported by the guns of the U.S. Navy, the enemy army pushed the outnumbered defenders eastwards to Fort York. A six-hour battle ended when the British blew up the fort’s gunpowder magazine and retreated to Kingston.
After the battle, U.S. forces occupied York for six days. Despite agreeing in the terms of capitulation to respect private property and allow the civil government to continue functioning without hindrance, the Americans looted dwellings and torched the governor’s home and the buildings where parliament met. The invaders returned in July to a defenceless York, burned military facilities they had missed in April and took flour, boats and cannon.
fpcomment Such a waste of tax payer dollars! Let history be history and learn from it!
fpcomment No
fpcomment 'as amended by Dundas to include the word “gradual,” it passed 193 to 125 — the first time an abolitionist bill had passed the Commons.'
fpcomment My favourite part of cancel culture is watching all you ❄️ meltdown about so-called “woke” people. Ya’ll are so scared and it’s awesome. We’ll (woke mob lol) continue to get our way and you’ll cry and it’ll be hilarious. Grow a backbone and suck it up losers
fpcomment Give them this one and they will go after everything else.
fpcomment Simple: find someone else whose last name is Dundas who has done something good. Have a FREE dedication ceremony and spend the millions on actually helping people on need. JohnTory
fpcomment Reject Cancel Culture
fpcomment Put all that money to better use I.e housing
fpcomment Agreed. A waste of time and $$$ to be PC and do cancel culture. Learn from the past, yes …but can’t change it!
fpcomment But But The Narrative? MagicKingdom LeftyMeltyDownyzzzz Again 🤪❄️
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