Key events 1800-1850

1801 The start of Lamarckism. Before Darwin, Lamarck published a theory that traits you get while meeting challenges (like stretched necks to reach high branches) get passed on to offspring. Almost a genetic version of "growth mindset" the idea was if you pushed yourself tiny growth amounts would be passed down to your kids.


1802 Kahkewaquonaby (Peter Jones) is born near Burlington Bay

1806 Joseph Brant sells parts of his land to United Empire Loyalist friends

1809 First Settlers in Appleby area

1810 downtown Burlington (then Wellington square) has a warehouse, saw mill, shingle factory, lathe and stave mills. The first flour mill in the area was built in 1812. Wellington square had 16 dwellings at the time.

1811 the McIntosh apple was first produced by John McIntosh

1811 Battle of Tippecanoe William Henry Harrison, govenor of Indiana, attacked Tecumseh's Western Confederacy at Shawne (when Tecumseh was away). Tecumseh was inspired to allign with British forces to stop American expansion into their lands.

June 1812 - February 1815 The War of 1812

1813 (July) "destruction of redoubt near old inlet (in Burlington's Beach strip) by Americans, planned to attack Burlington Heights- British anticipated attack- Americans reembarked after destroying redoubt, sailed for York" (September) "British fleet of two ships, two brigs and two schooners damaged by Americans-British sailed for shelter in Burlington Bay, pursued- easterly gale raised inlet's level- Americans feared intensity of gale, sailed for Niagara-British fleet repaired with help from garrison at Burlington Heights."(Halton Heritage Study 1981)


1813 With the help of the Haudenosaune, Laura Secord stops the American Invasion by passing on their plans to the Canadian soldiers.

1814 Alexander Macdonnell of the North West Company presents the MĂ©tis Nation with a flag featuring a white infinity symbol on a blue background. Still proudly flown today, the symbol represents the joining of two cultures- Indigenous and European and the immortality of the new nation.

1814 Treaty of Ghent ,between British and United States, was signed in Belgium

1816 The Battle of Frog Plain (Metis)/The Battle of Seven Oaks (common term)

Metis resistance to the restriction on the sale of pemmican. Led by Metis leader Cuthbert Grant, they captured Fort Brandon which was a Hudson's Bay Company post.

1823 Shawnadithit , the last of the Beothuk, dies of tuburculosis

1826-1832 swing bridge is made over Burlington's inlet, canal was dredged to where it is now.

1831 "Largest windmill in the world" built at the mouth of the Don River (Toronto). Will eventually become the Distillery district in Toronto.

1831 The Mohawk Institute, Canada's first residential school, begins to accept students (Brantford, Ontario). It was run by the Anglican Church and is now used as an education, preservation, memorial, and outreach centre.

1834 slavery is abolished

1833 Burlington's first model farm was built at the bottom of Niagara Escarpment by Adam Fergusson

1837 A Smallpox epidemic hits the prairies via a fur trading boat killing an estimated 3/4 of the Indigenous population.

1845-1846 Port Nelson shipped more grain than Hamilton. Wheat was the most important export and flour manufacturing was the greatest in Upper Canada, Chicago even shipped their grain to Burlington

1845 The Bagot report is presented to the Legislative Assembly which states that the best course of action is to remove Indigenous children from their families and place them in residential schools. The Mohawk Indian Residential School is used as an example of how industrial schools should be run.

1847 Mississaugas of the Credit River First Nation is forced to relocate to their current location. They bought the land from Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation

1847 The Franklin Expedition begins...and will be lost for 200 years.

1849 Metis and First Nations led by white businessman Alan Macdonell, attack the Quebec Mining Company's mine in Mica, Quebec because they did not have rights to the land. The incident is summarized here

1857 Establishment of Burlington's first post office

1858 Appleby has a saw mill, blacksmith shop, church

1848 The first land purchase for Africville in Nova Scotia. The land where this community lived was systematically neglected by the city. Despite paying taxes, they were not given access to clean water or sewer services, and the land was frequently polluted by the city choosing to build in the middle of the area: a railway, industrial waste, sewage, and even a garbage dump threatened the health and safety of the inhabitants.

In the 1960's, Africville was destroyed by the city of Halifax and the people there relocated with very little compensation ($500 for a house). Now a park stands on the land and former residents visit every summer for a festival celebrating their resilience and community.

1870 Appleby has a grist mill, great western railway flag station