Fort York – The birthplace of Toronto was the site of a bloody battle for control of British North America

January 2023

The Fort York National Historic Site in downtown Toronto, Ontario, was the site of a bloody battle during the War of 1812, one that would have repercussions that extended beyond the actual battle itself. Known as the Battle of York, Fort York is where British regulars, First Nations warriors and Upper Canadian militiamen battled against an overwhelming American force.

Fort York was originally built in in 1793 along the waterfront, at the entrance of the town’s natural harbour, sheltered by a long sand-bar peninsula, corresponding with the establishment of the Town of York by Upper Canada Governor John Graves Simcoe. Simcoe had decided to re-locate the capital of Upper Canada from Newark (now Niagara-on-the-Lake) to York, since it was further away from the American border. It was one of many along the shore of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River for the defence of Upper Canada.

The fort featured stone-lined earthwork walls, with various buildings within the walls, including barracks, blockhouses and magazines and a government house.

The bloody Battle of York took place on 27 April 1813, when American army and naval forces attacked the town, in an effort to capture York. Unfortunately, at the time, Fort York was manned by a small garrison of British regulars, First Nations warriors and Upper Canadian militiamen, under the command of British Major-General Roger Hale Sheaffe. Quickly overwhelmed by the larger American force, Major-General Sheaffe ordered his British regulars to withdraw from the fort, eventually retreating back to Kingston.

In an effort to buy some time for the withdrawal, Major-General Sheaffe ordered for a silent withdrawal from the fort. As part of the deception, the British flag was left flying on the fort’s flagpole, tricking the Americans into thinking it was still occupied.

Once his soldiers were clear of the fort, Major-General Sheaffe ordered the detonation of the fort’s gunpowder magazines, which had been rigged to explode in order to prevent its capture. The resulting explosion from the 74 tons of iron shells and 300 barrels of gunpowder contained within the magazines, launched a significant amount of debris into the air and resulted in over 250 American casualties. Fearing a counterattack, the American forces regrouped outside the wall and did not advance onto the abandoned fort until after British forces left York.

The militia and First Nations warriors were left behind by the retreating British soldiers and taken prisoner, while the town was looted by the Americans. Most of the fort buildings that hadn’t been destroyed by the explosion were set on fire by the Americans. Many prominent citizens of Upper Canada denounced Major-General Sheaffe’s conduct at York, and Sir George Prevost relieved Sheaffe of his military and civil appointments in Upper Canada, putting him in charge of the troops in Montreal.

The Americans occupied the fort for a brief period, while they plundered the town. Prior to departing from York, the detained Upper Canada militiamen that were captured were released and the remaining buildings in the fort were destroyed.

The British returned to York not long after the Americans left, and rebuilt Fort York over the next two years, and was manned once again by British soldiers and Upper Canadian Militia, along with a newer fort that was erected to the west, at the site of the current Exhibition Grounds, in the 1840s.

The new fort had one encounter with an American naval squadron on 6 August 1814, when the USS Lady of the Lake sailed into York Harbour, falsely under a white flag, to test the harbour defences. The Militia posted at the fort didn’t fall for the ploy and fired their cannons at the ship. Both sides exchanged fire, but then the USS Lady of the Lake withdrew. This was the last time American forces attempted an attack on Fort York.

It would remain in British hands until 1870, when it was formally transferred to the Canadian militia. Ownership of the fort was transferred again in 1909, this time to the City of Toronto, although the Canadian Army continued to make use of the fort until the end of World War II.

In 1923, Fort York and the surrounding property were designated as a National Historic Site of Canada. Restored to its War of 1812 configuration in 1934, it was reopened as a museum and tourist attraction. All the buildings are restored original buildings, except for the Blue Officers’ (junior officers) Barracks and Mess, which is a reproduction.

Fort York is open year-round, with free guided and self-guided tours offered to visitors. A modern visitor centre features: “…a 2,900 square foot Exhibit Gallery, an ‘immersive experience’ exhibit, which takes visitors through the steps leading up to the Battle of York and the explosion of the fort’s Grand Magazine, a 480 square foot vault, or treasury designed to display iconic and light-sensitive artifacts and an Orientation Theatre, with a new orientation film.”

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_York, https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/museums/fort-york-national-historic-site, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Hale_Sheaffe, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_York.