at the tower, on the grounds of the Royal Military College of Canada
Commemoration
A strategic location for the defence of the Loyalist settlement at Cataraqui (Kingston), this point was reserved in 1788 and named after Sir Frederick Haldimand, Governor of Quebec (1778-86). In 1790-91 a guardhouse and storehouse were built. By 1792 a dockyard was in operation and during the War of 1812 this vital naval base was fortified. On November 10, 1812, the Fort Frederick battery took part in repulsing an American naval squadron under Commodore Isaac Chauncey. This structure, on of four massive stone Martello towers built to strengthen Kingston’s defence, was erected in 1846-47 during g the Oregon boundary crisis between the United States and Britain. In 1852, the dockyard was closed and in 1870 Fort Frederick was abandoned.
Background
The peninsula itself is 41 hectares (101 acres). To the north of it, the Rideau Canal starts it journey to Ottawa. Although the plaque states thatit was named after Frederick Haldimand, other sources suggest It was named after Frederick, Prince of Wales, father of George III but never king himself. Governor Haldimand had intended that the town be built here rather than across the water where it was built.