| The settlement was originally known as Butlersburg, in honour of Colonel John
Butler, the commander of Butler's Rangers.
The Town received official status in 1781 when it became known as Newark,
a British military site and haven for British loyalists fleeing the United States
in the volatile aftermath of the American Revolution.
Later, it changed names again, this time to Niagara.
Niagara was named the first capitol of Upper Canada (now the province of Ontario),
and the first provincial parliament was convened at Navy Hall in 1792 by Lieutenant-Govenor
John Graves Simcoe.
During the War of 1812, the capitol was moved to York (later to be renamed
as Toronto) so as to be farther from the areas of combat.
The Town played a central part in the War or 1812. It was taken by American
forces after a two day bombardment by cannons from Fort Niagara and the American
Fleet, followed by a bloody battle.
Later in the war the Town was razed and burnt to the ground by American soldiers
as they withdrew to Fort Niagara. Undaunted by this setback, the citizens rebuilt
the Town after the War, with the residential quarter around Queen Street and toward
King Street, where the new Court House was rebuilt out of firing range of the
cannons of Fort Niagara.
In the 1880's, the Town was renamed as Niagara-on-the-Lake to avoid confusion
with Niagara Falls. The central part is referred to as Old Town or Old Niagara.
|
