An Upstream Battle

In the early 19th century, navigators could avoid the rapids between Lake St. Louis and Lake St. François by using small canals built by the military around 1780, but no such route existed around the Lachine Rapids. In 1815, the government of Lower Canada sponsored a study to build a canal on Montreal Island, but delayed carrying it out. Four years later, a group of businessmen led by John Richardson took over the project and formed the Company of the Proprietors of the Lachine Canal, but the company withdrew after failing to sell enough shares to finance the work. Under growing pressure from merchants, the government relaunched the project, work began in Lachine on July 17, 1821, the canal was officially inaugurated on August 24, 1824, and it became navigable along its full length the following year.

Quebec · Canada