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Near the Cobourg Marina at the foot of Third Street on the harbour, Cobourg
Commemoration
Saw and grist mills erected in this area during the first decade of the 19th century fostered the development here of a small settlement. The completion of the Kingston Road by 1817 facilitated its growth and within a decade it had a population of 350. Known as Hamilton, then Cobourg, the community expanded rapidly as a commercial and shipping centre and as a port of entry particularly after harbour improvements were completed in 1832. Five years later, when it was incorporated as a town under an elected Board of Police, Cobourg became the administrative centre for the Newcastle District. The establishment of several industries spurred further grown and in 1850, with about 3800 residents, Cobourg was incorporated as a town under a Council and Mayor.
United Empire Loyalists founded the town in 1798 on land which had been purchased from the Mississauga. Initially several small settlements were established which later coalesced into Cobourg. It was named in honour of Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, husband of Princess Charlotte Augusta, daughter of George IV. Prince Leopold, in 1831, became the first King of Belgium. Before that, he traded the territory of Saalfeld for Gotha, creating the house of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, This was the house of Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria and became the family name of the British royals until it was changed to Windsor during the First World War.
The Kingston Road, referred to on the plaque is largely the road that we follow on this tour.