Roll Call
Fort George served as the headquarters for the Centre Division of the British Army during the War of 1812. British forces included British regulars, local militia, aboriginal warriors, and a corps of freed slaves. Major-General Sir Isaac Brock served at Fort George until his death at the Battle of Queenston Heights on October 13, 1812. Brock and his aide-de-camp John Macdonell, who were both killed during the battle, were initially interred at the fort. In May 1813, the Americans captured Fort George following a barrage of artillery fire from Fort Niagara (located less than 1000 metres across the Niagara River) and ships at the mouth of the river and on Lake Ontario. The bombardment destroyed most of the fort, which was held by the Americans for 7 months.
The Americans used Fort George and the adjacent town of Niagara-on-the-Lake as a base to invade the rest of Upper Canada. However, British forces repulsed the Americans at the Battles of Stoney Creek and Beaver Dams. The British recaptured Fort George in December 1813. During the American withdrawal, they razed the town and the fort. The townspeople rebuilt Niagara-on-the-Lake following the war, and the British partially rebuilt Fort George. However, Fort George's importance diminished as a result of the construction of Fort Mississauga down river on the other side of Niagara-on-the-Lake. As a result, Fort George fell into ruin and was abandoned in 1820.
The fort has since been rebuilt to how it would have appeared during the War of 1812. The only structure that survived the war was, ironically, its most vulnerable: the powder magazine.
Roll Call
Fort George served as the headquarters for the Centre Division of the British Army during the War of 1812. British forces included British regulars, local militia, aboriginal warriors, and a corps of freed slaves. Major-General Sir Isaac Brock served at Fort George until his death at the Battle of Queenston Heights on October 13, 1812. Brock and his aide-de-camp John Macdonell, who were both killed during the battle, were initially interred at the fort. In May 1813, the Americans captured Fort George following a barrage of artillery fire from Fort Niagara (located less than 1000 metres across the Niagara River) and ships at the mouth of the river and on Lake Ontario. The bombardment destroyed most of the fort, which was held by the Americans for 7 months.
The Americans used Fort George and the adjacent town of Niagara-on-the-Lake as a base to invade the rest of Upper Canada. However, British forces repulsed the Americans at the Battles of Stoney Creek and Beaver Dams. The British recaptured Fort George in December 1813. During the American withdrawal, they razed the town and the fort. The townspeople rebuilt Niagara-on-the-Lake following the war, and the British partially rebuilt Fort George. However, Fort George's importance diminished as a result of the construction of Fort Mississauga down river on the other side of Niagara-on-the-Lake. As a result, Fort George fell into ruin and was abandoned in 1820.
The fort has since been rebuilt to how it would have appeared during the War of 1812. The only structure that survived the war was, ironically, its most vulnerable: the powder magazine.