Events from the year 1812 in Canada.
Incumbents Monarch: George III
Federal government Parliament of Lower Canada: 7th Parliament of Upper Canada: 5th (until March 6) then 6th (starting July 27)
Governors Governor of the Canadas: Robert Milnes Governor of New Brunswick: George Prevost Governor of Nova Scotia: John Wentworth then John Coape Sherbrooke Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland: Charles Morice Pole Governor of Prince Edward Island: Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres
Events June 18 – The U.S. declares war on Britain, beginning the War of 1812. There were about 4,000 British troops in Canada. George Prevost is Governor. Four Canadian battalions are assembled, and the Citadel at Quebec is guarded by the inhabitants. July 11 – Americans under General William Hull invade Canada from Detroit. August 16 – Isaac Brock with a force of 1,350, nearly half Aboriginals, takes Detroit. He paroles many of Hull's 2,000. August 20 – Launch of John Molson's second steamboat, the Swiftsure, at Montreal. August to October – The Red River Colony is begun in Canada's northwest on lands granted to Thomas Douglas by the Hudson's Bay Company. October – Almost half of Vermont's Legislators regard war as needless and impolitic; but Vermont imposes a penalty of $1,000 for every unauthorized communication with Canadians. October 13 – Stephen Van Rensselaer IV's command is repulsed, on Queenston Heights by Gen. Sheaffe and Governor Brock, who is killed. Of the 10,000 under Van Rensselaer, many were unwilling to invade, though willing to defend the United States. Fighting on the same side as British militia and Mohawk Indians, a group of black soldiers helps force American invaders to retreat in the Battle of Queenston Heights. October 25 – Battle at St. Regis. November 20 – Henry Dearborn's command cross the Lacolle. Charles de Salaberry eludes them, and, in the haze, U.S. troops fire upon each other. David Thompson retires to Montreal. The Americans gain several victories, on the water, as Napoleon engages the British attention. The United States calls out 175,000 men, Canada 2,000. For all purposes Canada votes 87,000 pounds.
Births May 12 – John Simpson, merchant, miller, banker, and politician (d.1885) October 21 – David H. Armstrong, United States Senator from Missouri from 1877 till 1879. (d. 1893) November 2 – William James Anderson, physician, amateur geologist and historian (d.1873) November 6 – Louis-Victor Sicotte, lawyer, judge and politician (d.1889) December 12 – John Sandfield Macdonald, Premier of Ontario (d.1872)
Deaths January – Thomas Walker, advocate and politician (b. c. 1759) January 12 – James Henry Craig, officer, colonial administrator (b.1748) March 11 – John Burbidge, soldier, land owner, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. (b.1718) October 13 – Sir Isaac Brock, military commander, administrator of Upper Canada (b.1769) December 2- Pierre-Louis Panet, lawyer, notary, seigneur, office holder, politician, and judge (b.1761)
Historical documents Excerpt (Feb. 25, 1812) from Congressman's speech says 5,000 regular troops are at Quebec City and 2–3,000 regulars in rest of Canadas"Plan for the Invasion of Canada," The Quebec Gazette, March 19, 1812 pg. 2, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 18 February 2025
Warnings of war between U.S.A. and U.K. come from U.S. sources"War Approaching!; War! War! Impending!" The Royal Gazette, and Newfoundland Advertiser (July 2, 1812) pg. 2 of 2 (lefthand page, 3rd and 4th columns). Accessed 6 February 2025
Fast facts on Canada in 1812: population tripled to 200,000 in 40 years, and "domesticated Indians" are much fewer (down from 16,000 to 2,000)Salem Register, "Deferred Articles; Canada" Pennsylvania Republican (August 4, 1812). Accessed 27 June 2020
County convention in Massachusetts warns of breakup of United States if commerce is not protected and encouraged as Constitution requires"In the uninterrupted progress of such events[....]" (August 13, 1812), The Royal Gazette, and Newfoundland Advertiser (October 1, 1812) pg. 2 of 3 (lefthand page, 4th column). Accessed 6 February 2025
Report that white Virginians fear uprising of enslaved Blacks and that Blacks say, "White man go to Canada, then Black man be free""Boston, July 21" The Royal Gazette, and Newfoundland Advertiser (September 24, 1812) pg. 2 of 2 (righthand page, 1st columns). Accessed 6 February 2025
War of 1812 "Friend Jonathan, to his arm'd bands, / Our forests promises and lands; / They may invade them for a day, / But can they with them run away?""On the threatened invasion of Canada" (January 13, 1812), The Quebec Mercury, January 13, 1812 pg. 15, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 12 February 2025
Boston mercantile house says British military force coming to Halifax, pre-war U.S. embargo is expected, and they are "at a loss how to act""Montreal, April, 6," The Quebec Gazette, April 9, 1812 pg. 2 (4th column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 19 February 2025
U.S. embargo has increased recruiting because it "has thrown all the lower classes entirely out of employment and[...]into the army""The Recruiting Service," The Quebec Gazette, May 7, 1812 pg. 2 (3rd column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. See also price rises for U.S. wheat etc. ("Extract of a letter from a respectable house in Liverpool" in 2nd column). Accessed 20 February 2025
Congress approves President James Madison's request for declaration of war on United Kingdom "and the subjects thereof.""An Act; Declaring War[....]" ("Approved, June 18, 1812"), The Quebec Mercury, June 30, 1812 pg. 205 (3rd column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 13 February 2025
New York newspaper: "We cannot help expressing our regret that such madness[...]should have seized a majority of our Representatives at Washington""WAR; From the New York Evening Post of June 20," The Quebec Gazette, July 2, 1812 pg. 2, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 21 February 2025
The Quebec Gazette: "The United States have grown vain with the memory of their revolution [and will suffer for their] overweening presumption""Quebec; Thursday, July 2, 1812," The Quebec Gazette, July 2, 1812 pg. 2 (3rd column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. See also longer Gazette editorial in July 4 extra. Accessed 19 February 2025
Thomas Jefferson: "The acquisition of Canada this year, as far as the neighborhood of Quebec [City], will be a mere matter of marching"Letter of Thomas Jefferson (August 4, 1812), U.S. National Archives. Accessed 14 February 2025
Salem, Mass. report says deputation of Indigenous people at St. Andrews has agreed to remain neutral and "exhort all the tribes" to do same"American Papers; Indian Neutrality" (July 21, 1812), The Quebec Gazette, August 13, 1812 pg. 2 (2nd column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 21 February 2025
Halt to fighting arranged by Gov. Gen. Prevost and U.S. Maj. Gen. Dearborn is vetoed by President Madison; Prevost suspects U.S. has undeclared war aims"American Intelligence; General Order" (August 13, 1812), The Royal Gazette, and Newfoundland Advertiser (November 12, 1812) pg. 1 of 2 (lefthand page). See also comment (pg. 2, 3rd column) that "we must make up our minds to the bloody drama which the Americans call upon us to act." Accessed 7 February 2025
"I do not see how we can retain the Country" - Loss of two Lake Erie warships worries Isaac Brock about U.S. gaining naval superiority"Major General Sir Isaac Brock to Governor General Sir George Prevost" (October 11, 1812), quoted in Chapter Three The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History, pg. 332. Accessed 28 February 2025
Indigenous people meeting in Onondaga County, N.Y. are reported to have agreed "to furnish[...]2000 warriors [led by] the famous Red Jacket""American Intelligence; New-York, Oct. 14; The Indian tribes in this vicinity[....]," The Royal Gazette, and Newfoundland Advertiser (November 12, 1812) pg. 2 of 2 (righthand page, 1st column). Accessed 7 February 2025
Excerpt (undated) from long argument against war with Britain, calling "the warfare complicated, perplexing, slow and expensive""From the New York Herald; An Address to the people of the Eastern States," The Quebec Mercury, December 29, 1812 pgs. 411–12, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 17 February 2025
Gov. Gen. Prevost notes "the complete discomfiture of the plans of the enemy" at Michilimackinac, Detroit and Queenston"Tuesday, 29th December, 1812; Gentlemen of the Legislative Council[....]," Journal of the House of Assembly, Lower-Canada (1812), pgs. 14, 16 See also description (pg. 271) of action at Michilimakinac and at Detroit (pg. 277), and at Queenston (pgs. 339 + 342). Accessed 12 February 2025
In call to arms, U.S. commander admits "the nation has been unfortunate in the selection of some of those who have directed" invasions of Canada"Smyth's Proclamations; To the men of the State of New-York" (November 10, 1812), The Quebec Gazette, December 17, 1812 pg. 2, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. See also word of this commander's defeat (pg. 3, 1st column). Accessed 25 February 2025
"Reality is threatened with a total change. We are menaced to be cast into the abyss of American democracy!" and its "angry passions""To the Inhabitants of Canada; Countrymen[....]," The Quebec Gazette, October 29, 1812 pg. 2 (2nd column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 24 February 2025
Lower Canada Nightly spring frosts have ended and farmers have begun to sow wheat "on the driest and most elevated situations" to beat early September frost"Quebec; Thursday, May 14, 1812; The Season," The Quebec Gazette, May 14, 1812 pg. 3, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 20 February 2025
"The fields[...]are now covered with snow, not five months since that of last winter disappeared!" leaving only half of wheat harvested"Quebec; Thursday, October 15, 1812; The Season," The Quebec Gazette, October 15, 1812 pg. 3, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 24 February 2025
In "no country [have commerce and war] operated as powerfully in raising colonies to wealth and importance as in the Canadas""From the National Intelligencer; The Canadas - No. I," The Quebec Mercury, December 22, 1812 pg. 402, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 17 February 2025
Editorial: "When a neighbouring power arms, it becomes all who are in danger to be equally on their guard""Quebec, March 23, 1812," The Quebec Mercury, March 23, 1812 pg. 94 (middle column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 13 February 2025
Canadian Voltigeurs regiment has during two days been swamped by well over 150 "young Canadians" in Montreal wishing to enlist; more elsewhere"The Canadian Voltigeurs" (May 9, 1812), The Quebec Gazette, May 14, 1812 pg. 2 (4th column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. See also "Montreal, May 23" (pg. 2, 2nd column) that chanting and singing Voltigeurs are off to Chambly garrison. Accessed 20 February 2025
Glengary Light Infantry has 400 men after recruiting at Trois-Rivières for two months; they are promised land grants after war"Recruiting," The Quebec Gazette, May 28, 1812 pg. 2, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. See also "Glengary Sharp Shooters" ad on pg. 3. Accessed 20 February 2025
Unmarried Quebec City militiamen, age 18–30, are to go to Pointe-aux-Trembles; some "murmurs" against burden falling on "one class of the society""Quebec; Thursday, June 4, 1812; The unmarried men[....]," The Quebec Gazette, June 4, 1812 pg. 2 (4th column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 21 February 2025