History of Kingston (continued)

In 1787, Fort Frontenac would be renamed Tête de Pont barracks. The same year Cataraqui would be renamed King’s Town, which would become Kingston the following year. Also during this time, the majority of Pittsburgh Township was surveyed and opened for the Loyalists to settle in.

The Kingston Grammar School was established in 1792. The school would then go through many name and location changes. Eventually, the school would become Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute. This school is Canada’s oldest secondary school. The first school in Ontario was also located in the city. In 1785, Rev. John Stuart, the first Anglican priest in Ontario, would arrive Cataraqui. He would establish Gandatsdhathon the following year.

Kingston would thrive at the turn of the century, with many buildings being established. In 1789, a naval dockyard and a base for the Provincial Marine were built at Point Fredrick. 1792 saw the building of St. George’s Church. Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe and his Executive Council would soon be sworn in and have their first meeting at the church. The Kingston market began in 1801. 1810 saw the town’s first printing office when The Kingston Gazette began printing.

War would soon envelop Kingston. The war of 1812 began, and Kingston would become an important player in the war. Fort Henry was built in 1813, on Point Henry, to protect the naval dockyard. Sir James Lucas Yeo, who was in command of a Royal Naval detachment, arrived at the dockyard. He began to build warships to control Lake Ontario. In 1814, the HMS St. Lawrence was launched. With 112 guns it became the most powerful ship on the Great Lakes.