Fort Lennox
Encyclopedia
Fort Lennox National Historic Site occupies most of Ile aux Noix
, an island in the middle of the Richelieu River
in the parish of Saint-Paul-de-l'Île-aux-Noix, Quebec
, near the Canada
-U.S. border. The fort features restored defense works and stonework buildings, and is surrounded by a star-shaped moat
.
, who died in 1819 and was Governor General of British North America
. An earlier 1760s fort on the same site was originally built by the French during the Seven Years' War
.
features an exhibit about military engineering and restoration work carried out at the fort.
Guided tours are given of the grounds and buildings, which include an ordnance magazine and artillery
magazine, a guardhouse
, officers' quarters, barracks
and casemates. During summer weekends, living history
demonstrations focus on fort life in the mid 19th century.
Ile aux Noix
Île aux Noix is an island on the Richelieu River in Quebec, close to Lake Champlain. The island is the site of Fort Lennox National Historic Site. Politically, it is part of Saint-Paul-de-l'Île-aux-Noix.-Background:...
, an island in the middle of the Richelieu River
Richelieu River
The Richelieu River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows from the north end of Lake Champlain about north, ending at the confluence with the St. Lawrence River at Sorel-Tracy, Quebec downstream and northeast of Montreal...
in the parish of Saint-Paul-de-l'Île-aux-Noix, Quebec
Saint-Paul-de-l'Île-aux-Noix, Quebec
Saint-Paul-de-l'Île-aux-Noix is a parish municipality in southern Quebec, Canada located in the administrative area of the Montérégie. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 1,996.-Population:Population trend-Language:...
, near the 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...
-U.S. border. The fort features restored defense works and stonework buildings, and is surrounded by a star-shaped moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
.
History
Built by the British between 1819 and 1829, the fort was designed to protect the colony from possible American invasion. The fort was named after Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of RichmondCharles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond
Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond, 4th Duke of Lennox KG, PC was a British soldier and politician and Governor General of British North America.-Background:...
, who died in 1819 and was Governor General of British North America
British North America
British North America is a historical term. It consisted of the colonies and territories of the British Empire in continental North America after the end of the American Revolutionary War and the recognition of American independence in 1783.At the start of the Revolutionary War in 1775 the British...
. An earlier 1760s fort on the same site was originally built by the French during the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
.
Museum
Visitors can tour the 1820s period officers' quarters. The north magazineMagazine (artillery)
Magazine is the name for an item or place within which ammunition is stored. It is taken from the Arabic word "makahazin" meaning "warehouse".-Ammunition storage areas:...
features an exhibit about military engineering and restoration work carried out at the fort.
Guided tours are given of the grounds and buildings, which include an ordnance magazine and artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
magazine, a guardhouse
Guardhouse
A guardhouse is a building used to house personnel and security equipment...
, officers' quarters, barracks
Barracks
Barracks are specialised buildings for permanent military accommodation; the word may apply to separate housing blocks or to complete complexes. Their main object is to separate soldiers from the civilian population and reinforce discipline, training and esprit de corps. They were sometimes called...
and casemates. During summer weekends, living history
Living history
Living history is an activity that incorporates historical tools, activities and dress into an interactive presentation that seeks to give observers and participants a sense of stepping back in time. Although it does not necessarily seek to reenact a specific event in history, living history is...
demonstrations focus on fort life in the mid 19th century.