History - Niagara
We have scoured the web for the most relevant and interesting links concerning Niagara's history. Don't be surprised if the hours fly by as you lose yourself in the amazing stories found here.
Featured Articles
Learn things about Niagara you likely never knew! Our local historian,
Adam Shoalts, has compiled a series of articles about Niagara's history, arranged chronologically. Adam has been recognized for his writing on local history, most recently being awarded Brock University's Niagara Peninsula Society (Archaeological Institute of America) Prize in Classical Archaeology and History.
The Neutral Natives of Niagara
This article covers Niagara's Aboriginal history prior to European arrival and up to the 17th century.
Niagara's First European Explorers Information about the first French explorers that arrived in Niagara and contains some early accounts of the Falls.
18th Century Niagara Falls 
This article is about a famous story that happened at Niagara Falls in the 1700s. Adam provides much of the information from the original account written in 1750, to provide the best context of what it was like in this area at that time.
After the Seven Years' War (1756-1763)
The Niagara Peninsula experienced some major events after the Seven Years' War, including the establishment of Fort Erie. Learn more about this important time in our history.
An Extraordinary Encounter: The Meeting of Robert Rogers and Pontiac In 1766, the Niagara Peninsula was the site of an historic encounter between two former adversaries and legendary figures in North American history. The Ottawa warrior and leader, Pontiac, and the guerrilla warfare commander, Robert Rogers, came face-to-face in Niagara.
The Loyalist Settlement in Niagara The Niagara Peninsula’s first permanent non-native settlers were the Loyalists: political refugees forced to abandon their homes in the newly established United States. They arrived in Niagara after the Revolutionary War had concluded in 1783, and continued to trickle across the border for the next several decades.
The Contentious Naming of Niagara-on-the-Lake Few towns in Canada are as picturesque as the quaint little historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Likewise, few towns in Canada have experienced such a bewildering number of name changes as Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Pioneer Life in Niagara Life was not easy for Niagara’s first-generation Loyalist settlers: they had been forced by the caprices of war to abandon their homes and all they had known for an uncertain future in the backwoods of Canada.
Overview of Niagara in the War of 1812 One of the most exciting and pivotal chapters in Canadian history is unquestionably the War of 1812, when Canada faced a full-scale invasion and the threat of annexation to the United States. The war ultimately decided the fate of Canada: had the United States succeeded in their expansionist ambitions that were at the heart of the conflict, Canada would today be a part of the United States.
Sir Isaac Brock Few figures in Canadian history loom as large as Sir Isaac Brock. A legendary leader and brilliant general, Brock gave his life defending Upper Canada from an American invasion in the War of 1812.
John Macdonnell: The Forgotten Hero History has immortalized Sir Isaac Brock, the gallant general who died at Queenston Heights while defending Canada in the War of 1812. However, the Battle of Queenston Heights on October 13, 1812 also witnessed the death of another gallant solider, who today is nearly forgotten. This was Brock’s close Canadian friend and provincial aide-de-camp, Lieutenant-Colonel John Macdonnell.
A Canadian Heroine: The Story of Laura Secord Laura Secord is probably one of the best-known women in Canadian history and arguably Canada’s greatest heroine. Her exploits in the War of 1812 have become the stuff of legend. She has lent her name to a chocolate company, and her modest home in Queenston has become a National Historic Site.
The Green Tiger: Lieutenant James FitzGibbon In 1813 the Niagara Peninsula was torn by war. Marauding American militia and bands of unscrupulous Canadian traitors swept through the countryside — pillaging, plundering, and burning homes. Things looked bleak: Brock was dead and the British were in retreat across the province. The provincial capital, York, had been raided and burned by Americans in the spring. If ever a country needed a hero, it was surely now. Canada found one in a hardened guerrilla warfare commander, Lieutenant James FitzGibbon.
William Hamilton Merritt and his Dragoons When the United States declared war on the British Empire in June of 1812, it was clear that every able-bodied man in Canada would be needed to defend the country. The Americans enjoyed a huge advantage in terms of manpower, as Britain was already preoccupied with the Napoleonic Wars. In the Niagara Peninsula, a horse-mounted cavalry regiment christened the Niagara Light Dragoons was raised. Among its officers was an ambitious nineteen year old, William Hamilton Merritt. Merritt was the son of a Loyalist and would later rise to prominence by constructing the first Welland Canal. Merritt and his family lived in Shipman’s Corners (present-day St. Catharines).
Captain John DeCou and his Stone House In the heart of the Niagara Peninsula lies the half-forgotten stone ruins of an ancient farmhouse, nestled amongst some grand old hardwoods, and near to a picturesque cascade. The ruined house was built some two centuries ago, when the peninsula was still, by and large, a trackless wilderness. The nearby Twelve Mile Creek made the two-storey house’s location ideal; the rushing waters of the creek promised to be good for industry. Just to the north was the imposing Niagara Escarpment, and beyond that in the distance were the shimmering blue waters of Lake Ontario.
The Siege of Fort Erie It was dark as the American army, some five thousand strong, rowed across the swift current of the Niagara River and landed on the Canadian shore upstream from Fort Erie. The date was July 3, 1814; this crossing marked the third and final invasion of the Niagara Peninsula in the War of 1812—and by far the bloodiest.
The Mystery of John Norton The figure of John Norton emerges in history like a phantom. His date of birth and death remain unknown. Although his life may be mysterious and obscure, his sterling service defending Canada on the Niagara Frontier in the War of 1812 is unquestioned. Norton was a warrior, wanderer, and writer who lived a life full of adventure and even became an adopted Iroquois war chief.
The Battle of Lundy’s Lane A short distance from the thundering waters of Niagara Falls, near a dirt roadway and high knoll, the bloodiest single-day engagement of the War of 1812 played out. This was the Battle of Lundy’s Lane, fought in the darkness on a stiflingly hot midsummer’s night. By the time it was over, nearly 2,000 soldiers were casualties, or almost one out of every three combatants.
The Battle of Chippawa The Chippawa Creek (Welland River) snakes across the heart of the Niagara Peninsula before emptying into the blue waters of the Niagara River, a short distance above the falls. In 1814, a very small hamlet was concentrated at the creek’s mouth, home to a few farms and a British military post. Beyond the few orchards and grain fields, extensive forests still enveloped most of the surrounding countryside. This tranquil setting served as the scene of one of the War of 1812’s toughest battles.
Canada’s Arch Traitor: Joseph Willcocks Nearly every country it seems has at least one notorious traitor to blacken its history. England for instance, has Guy Fawkes, the Catholic conspirator who attempted to blow up parliament and is still burned in effigy each November. The United States has Benedict Arnold, the Revolutionary War turncoat. As for Canada, Niagara’s own Joseph Willcocks is certainly the most treasonous, if not well-known, of Canadian villains.
A selection of sites that provide more historical information about Niagara. As you can see, ours is a rich and colourful history.more...