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Fort Frederick (Kingston)
Encyclopedia
Fort Frederick is a historic military building located on Point Frederick
on the grounds of the Royal Military College of Canada
(RMC) in Kingston, Ontario
, Canada
. Its construction dates to 1846 and the Oregon crisis. The fort consists of earthworks
surrounding a Martello tower
. Fort Frederick is included in two separate National Historic Sites of Canada: Kingston Fortifications National Historic Site and the Point Frederick Buildings National Historic Site.
. The point and fort were named after Frederick, Prince of Wales
. The original fort, consisting of earthworks, was built during the War of 1812
for protection against naval attack. On November 10, 1812, the Fort Frederick battery took part in repulsing an American naval squadron under Commodore Isaac Chauncey.
Four stone Martello towers were built to strengthen Kingston's defences in 1846 during the Oregon
Boundary crisis between the United States
and Britain
. The towers were meant to protect the shipyard and the entrances to the Rideau Canal
and St. Lawrence River, from possible United States
aggression. Fort Frederick was one of these, and was built on the site of the original fort. Fort Frederick was abandoned in 1870. In 1908-9 a new roof was put on Fort Frederick, replacing a roof which had block off in a storm in 1907.
Fort Frederick is the RMC cadets' outdoor relaxed area, where all cadets are considered equal in rank, headress may be removed, and cadets have free rein to relax. The Martello tower houses the RMC Museum
.
While Archibald Macdonnell was Commandant, between 1909-19, the upper floors of Fort Frederick was used as a common room. After the seniors rolled cannon balls down the common room stairs, the floor was reallocated as a recruit haven. The College's class of 1931 gifted Fort Frederick with wooden gates and a plaque in 1971 in remembrance of the days when Fort Frederick was a recruit refuge.
, CHIN
, and Virtual Museum of Canada
.
Point Frederick Peninsula
Point Frederick is a peninsula National Historic Site of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The peninsula is near where Lake Ontario empties into the Saint Lawrence River...
on the grounds of the Royal Military College of Canada
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
(RMC) in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Its construction dates to 1846 and the Oregon crisis. The fort consists of earthworks
Earthworks (engineering)
Earthworks are engineering works created through the moving or processing of quantities of soil or unformed rock.- Civil engineering use :Typical earthworks include roads, railway beds, causeways, dams, levees, canals, and berms...
surrounding a Martello tower
Martello tower
Martello towers are small defensive forts built in several countries of the British Empire during the 19th century, from the time of the Napoleonic Wars onwards....
. Fort Frederick is included in two separate National Historic Sites of Canada: Kingston Fortifications National Historic Site and the Point Frederick Buildings National Historic Site.
History
Fort Frederick was built on the south end of Point Frederick, the site of the Kingston Royal Naval DockyardKingston Royal Naval Dockyard
The Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard was a Royal Navy Dockyard from 1788 to 1853 in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, at the site of the current Royal Military College of Canada.-History:...
. The point and fort were named after Frederick, Prince of Wales
Frederick, Prince of Wales
Frederick, Prince of Wales was a member of the House of Hanover and therefore of the Hanoverian and later British Royal Family, the eldest son of George II and father of George III, as well as the great-grandfather of Queen Victoria...
. The original fort, consisting of earthworks, was built during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
for protection against naval attack. On November 10, 1812, the Fort Frederick battery took part in repulsing an American naval squadron under Commodore Isaac Chauncey.
Four stone Martello towers were built to strengthen Kingston's defences in 1846 during the Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
Boundary crisis between the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Britain
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
. The towers were meant to protect the shipyard and the entrances to the Rideau Canal
Rideau Canal
The Rideau Canal , also known as the Rideau Waterway, connects the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on the Ottawa River to the city of Kingston, Ontario on Lake Ontario. The canal was opened in 1832 as a precaution in case of war with the United States and is still in use today, with most of its...
and St. Lawrence River, from possible United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
aggression. Fort Frederick was one of these, and was built on the site of the original fort. Fort Frederick was abandoned in 1870. In 1908-9 a new roof was put on Fort Frederick, replacing a roof which had block off in a storm in 1907.
Fort Frederick is the RMC cadets' outdoor relaxed area, where all cadets are considered equal in rank, headress may be removed, and cadets have free rein to relax. The Martello tower houses the RMC Museum
Royal Military College of Canada Museum
The Royal Military College of Canada Museum, established in 1962, is located in a Martello tower known as Fort Frederick on the campus of the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, and is operated by the college. The Royal Military College of Canada Museum has regular hours from...
.
While Archibald Macdonnell was Commandant, between 1909-19, the upper floors of Fort Frederick was used as a common room. After the seniors rolled cannon balls down the common room stairs, the floor was reallocated as a recruit haven. The College's class of 1931 gifted Fort Frederick with wooden gates and a plaque in 1971 in remembrance of the days when Fort Frederick was a recruit refuge.
Affiliations
The Museum is affiliated with: CMACanadian Museums Association
The Canadian Museums Association is a national organization for the promotion of museums in Canada.The Canadian Museums Association is the national organization for the advancement of the Canadian museum sector, representing Canadian museum professionals both within Canada and internationally. The...
, CHIN
Canadian Heritage Information Network
The Canadian Heritage Information Network is a Canadian government-supported organization that provides a networked interface to Canada's heritage, largely through the World Wide Web. It aims to give access to Canada's heritage for both Canadians and a worldwide audience, by supporting the...
, and Virtual Museum of Canada
Virtual Museum of Canada
The Virtual Museum of Canada is Canada's national virtual museum. With a directory of over 3,000 Canadian heritage institutions and a database of over 600 virtual exhibits, the VMC brings together Canada's museums regardless of size or geographical location.The VMC includes virtual exhibits,...
.
See also
- Chronology of the War of 1812Chronology of the War of 1812-Origins:-1812:-1813:-1814:-1815:-External links:********...
- War of 1812 CampaignsWar of 1812 CampaignsThe following is a synopsis of the Land Campaigns of the War of 1812. The source is the United States Army Center of Military History-Canada, 18 June 1812 — 17 February 1815:...
- List of forts
- War of 1812War of 1812The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
- Upper CanadaUpper CanadaThe Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
- Royal eponyms in CanadaRoyal eponyms in CanadaIn Canada, a number of sites and structures are named for royal individuals, whether a member of the past French Royal Family, British Royal Family, or present Canadian Royal Family, thus reflecting the country's status as a constitutional monarchy under the Canadian Crown.-King Francis I:-Queen...
- Murney TowerMurney TowerMurney Tower is a Martello tower in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, whose construction dates to 1846 and the Oregon crisis. Officially designated as Murray Tower, the locals called it Murney Tower, as it was built on Murney Point, which was owned by the Murney family at the time. They have since...
- Cathcart TowerCathcart TowerCathcart Tower is a Martello tower located on Cedar Island in the St. Lawrence River, off the eastern shore of Fort Henry in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. It is one of four such towers built in the 1840s to protect Kingston's harbour and the entrance to the Rideau Canal...
- Shoal TowerShoal TowerShoal Tower is a Martello tower located in the harbour of Kingston, Ontario, Canada, directly opposite Kingston City Hall. It is one of four such towers built in the 1840s to protect Kingston's harbour and the entrance to the Rideau Canal...
Brochures
- Royal Military College of Canada, Fort Frederick: Facts brochure, (Kingston, 2000).
- Royal Military College of Canada, Visit Fort Frederick and the Royal Military College of Canada Museum brochure, (Kingston, 2000).