Navy Island

The British used Navy Island from 1761 to 1764 as a shipyard to build the first British decked vessels to sail the upper lakes, vessels that were essential in maintaining westward supply lines during Pontiac's uprising of 1763-4. Afterward the island remained undisturbed until 14 December 1837, when William Lyon Mackenzie, after being defeated at Toronto, led a Patriot army from Buffalo to occupy it. A swift response by local militia and British regulars prevented him from moving to the mainland, and on 14 January 1838, facing a hopeless situation, he abandoned the island.

Ontario · Canada