This is a timeline of the history of Ottawa.

History

17th century 1610 – Étienne Brûlé is the first European to see the Chaudière Falls. 1613 – Samuel de Champlain passes the site of the future Ottawa on June 4. 1613 to 1663 – A 1613 royal charter from the King of France evolved to give successive groups monopolies to invest in the vast territory of New France, control the fur trade and manage colonization. Eventually, unable to cope with numerous difficulties including territorial battles with the British and First Nations, the charter was surrendered in 1663. 1650 – Nicolas Gatineau, a clerk in the Company of One Hundred Associates, an organization of fur traders, gives his family name to the river flowing into the Ottawa River, two miles (3 km) from the present-day Hull sector of Gatineau. 1670 – The Hudson's Bay Company is formed by British royal charter and given trading monopoly over the watershed of all rivers and streams flowing into Hudson Bay – Rupert's Land.

18th century 1759 – During the Seven Years' War, the British defeat the French on the Plains of Abraham and capture Quebec City 1763 – The Treaty of Paris is signed by Great Britain, France and Spain to mark the end of the Seven Years' War. It gives Britain control of all French territories in North America except the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon near Newfoundland. 1776 – The American Revolution leads to the 1776 Declaration of Independence by thirteen colonies of British North America and the beginning of the United Empire Loyalists migration to Canada. 1783 – Britain and the United States sign the Treaty of Paris of 1783. By this agreement, Britain recognizes the independence of the thirteen colonies that rebelled in 1776. 1791 – The Constitutional Act of 1791, passed by the British Parliament, establishes the individually administered regions of Upper Canada and Lower Canada. 1792 Township B, later becoming Gloucester Township, was established. Township D, later becoming Nepean Township, was established. 1800 – Philemon Wright establishes a farming community on the north bank of the Ottawa River at the Chaudière Falls arriving from Woburn Massachusetts on March 7David Lee, Lumber Kings & Shantymen, James Lorimer & Company, Publishers, Toronto, 2006, p.16. with his own and five other families and twenty-five labourers.John H. Taylor, Ottawa, An Illustrated History, James Lorimer & Company, Publishers, Canadian Museum of Civilization, National Museums of Canada, Toronto, 1986, p.11. The community is known as Wright's Town and later becomes the City of Hull and subsequently the City of Gatineau.

19th century 1805 – The Napoleonic Wars make the Ottawa Valley an attractive source of timber for the Royal Navy. 1806 – Philemon Wright, his 18-year-old son, Tiberius, and a party of men set out on June 11 to guide his first timber raft, named "Colombo",John H. Taylor, Ottawa, An Illustrated History, James Lorimer & Company, Publishers, Canadian Museum of Civilization, National Museums of Canada, Toronto, 1986, p.13. down the Ottawa River to the port of Quebec City.David Lee, Lumber Kings & Shantymen, James Lorimer & Company, Publishers, Toronto, 2006, p.21. The voyage takes two months and marks the beginning of the boom in the timber, lumber and pulp and paper industries in the Ottawa Valley. 1809 – Jehiel Collins and his family become the first settlers in the region later known as Bytown. 1810 – Braddish Billings establishes a homestead and becomes the first settler in Gloucester Township, Ontario. 1811 – Ira Honeywell is the first settler in Nepean Township. 1812 – War of 1812. 1816 – The Duke of Wellington pointed out the necessity of making an interior water communication with Lake Ontario, so that supplies and boats might be thrown into the upper part of the country, in case of need.Mitchell & Co's County of Carleton and Ottawa City Directory for 1864-5; Toronto: W.C. Chewett & Co, 1864 1819 Royal Staff Corps constructed the Grenville Canal. Isaac Firth opens the area's first tavern at Richmond Landing, near the present-day LeBreton Flats. 1821 Nicholas Sparks, one of Philemon Wright farmhands, purchases of land on the south shore of the Ottawa River for 95 pounds. Today the original Sparks property, which includes the site of the parliament buildings and the downtown business district, is assessed at over one hundred million dollars. Philemon Wright Jr, Philemon Wright's eldest son, dies in a stagecoach accident. In 1826, Philemon Jr's widow, Sarah (Sally) Olmstead-Wright, will marry Nicholas Sparks, who will in turn adopt her children. In 1833, Sarah's daughter Erexina will become the wife of Andrew Leamy. 1823 Three exploring parties were organized to explore the country from Lake Ontario to the Ottawa. One starting at Belleville came out at Pembroke, another from Kingston, arrived at this point, and a third party came out at Hawkesbury. The Duke of Wellington, gave his advice, and the line of the Rideau Canal was selected. Sir George Ramsay, the Earl of Dalhousie and Governor-in-Chief of British North America purchases an extensive tract of land fronting the Ottawa River in preparation for the construction of the Rideau Canal. 1826 On September 26, Lieutenant Colonel By and the Earl of Dalhousie choose the location for the entrance to the Rideau Canal and consequently found a community where the City of Ottawa exists today. He negotiated reasonable terms with Mr. N. Sparks, who owned the land. The town was laid out. From these points the town extended itself by contiguity: Wellington street, west of Bank street, from its being on the line from Hull; Sparks and Rideau streets, on each side of Sappers' bridge, from their proximity to the Locks, where work was going on, and the middle of Sussex and York streets, from the nearness of the wharf and market. Daly street and neighbourhood were thrown into the market, and Sandy Hill took a start. The steamer began to call at the wharf near Stirling's Brewery. 1827 ByWard Market built. Colonel By constructed the weir causeway, a truss bridge to connect Hull to Bytown. Sir John Franklin, the famed Arctic explorer, lays the first stone of the Rideau Canal locks on August 16. The name Bytown is first used to identify the community growing up around the Rideau Canal construction. Bytown's first school, the English Mercantile and Mathematical Academy is established on Rideau Street. 1829 The first timber slide on the Ottawa River is constructed. *1831–34 – Maplelawn constructed. John Rochester, sen., and James Rochester established the Victoria Brewery 1832 The construction of the Rideau Canal is complete and the population of Bytown reaches 1,000. On June 20, the first Board of Health in Bytown is formed to combat an epidemic of Asiatic cholera. A temporary hospital is built where the Royal Canadian Mint now stands on Sussex Drive. The location is selected to facilitate the care of boat passengers from Montreal as they disembark at what came to be known as Cholera Wharf. Peter Dufour established a carriage & wagon works 1830s – Shiners' War: Labour unrest erupts within the lumber industry as some Irish immigrants unemployed upon completion of the Rideau Canal in 1832, a group known as Shiners, compete with the more experienced French Canadian timbermen for jobs 1836 – Bytown's first newspaper the Bytown Independent and Farmer's Advocate are published by James Johnston (Upper Canada politician). 1838 – Rideau Hall built. 1839 – An Assessment Roll sets the population of Bytown at 2,073. 1841 – The first election in Bytown for a seat in the Legislative Assembly of United Canada is held March 8. 1843 William Harris founds the Packet, a weekly newspaper. In 1851, the Packet becomes the Ottawa Citizen. The Arch Riot takes place on Sunday August 20. Animosity between the Orangemen and Papists of Bytown erupts in fighting and stone throwing. Lisgar Collegiate Institute founded. 1845 The Ottawa Hospital established. On May 8, Élisabeth Bruyère and the Sisters of Charity establish a single ward hospital on Saint Patrick Street. The name General Hospital is taken from the description contained in its charter. Élisabeth Bruyère established Ottawa Convent on Sussex at Nunnery Streets 1847 John Scott, a lawyer, became the first mayor of Bytown. The Health Department was established in a basic form 1848 The College of Ottawa was founded The City Foundry was established by T.M. Blasdell on Wellington Street French Canadian Institute, a literary & scientific society, was organized The City Foundry relocated to the Chaudiere Falls 1849 The Stony Monday Riot takes place on September 17. First City Hall (Ottawa) built. 1850 After some controversy, the village of Bytown is incorporated as a town. On March 11, the first town council meeting is held. 1851 – the Ottawa and Prescott Railway was opened. 1852 – The area of centertown lying between Bank and Elgin streets was built upon 1853 The Government sold the water-power of the Chaudiere Falls, causing the settlement of LeBreton flats Andrew Leamy builds his steam powered sawmill on the south bank of the lake that today, still bears his name: Leamy Lake Bytown boasts of having 60 stores, 3 banks, 3 insurance offices, 3 newspapers, 1 telegraph office and 7 schools. J. B. Turgeon became the first French-Canadian mayor of Bytown. Mechanics' Institute and Athenreum, a literary institute, was organized 1854 Bytown is linked by rail with the larger centers of Montreal and Toronto. Stockdale & Brother's, established a Carriage & Wagon factory on Rideau Street 1855 – On January 1, Bytown is formally incorporated as a city. In gaining city status, Bytown adopts the name of Ottawa. 1856 – English-language Separate District School Board No. 53 is formed (in 1998, Ottawa and Carleton merged separate school boards, and in 2007, was renamed to the current name of Ottawa Catholic School Board).Ottawa Catholic School Board 1857 Queen Victoria approves choice of Ottawa as the capital of the Province of Canada. Construction of buildings begins to prepare for arrival of government, with influx of workers. 1858 The Chaudiere Brewery was established The County of Russell agricultural society was organized 1860 Prince Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) arrived in Ottawa as part of his wider royal tour of the province, and laid the cornerstone of the growing Centre Block, with a luncheon on the grounds for the workers and their families. James McCullough established a tannery in 1860 1861 – The Ottawa Academy and Young Ladies' Seminary was established on Sparks Street. 1862 Nicholas Street Gaol built, Horsey, architect The Royal Horticultural Society is established 1863 The first professional police force is established. The Ottawa Literary Association was organized 1865 University of Ottawa founded. St. Joseph's Orphanage established General Hospital was erected by the Sisters of Charity, with accommodation for about 120 patients. Society of Saint Vincent de Paul established to support the Roman Catholic population 1866 – Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa established. 1866–68 – 24 Sussex Drive, the future official residence of the Prime Minister of Canada, is built by lumberman and Member of Parliament, Joseph Merrill Currier, as a wedding gift for his wife to be. 1867 The British North America Act is ratified. Ottawa, with a population of 18,000, becomes the permanent capital of Canada. The Ottawa Rowing Club is established with Sir John A. MacDonald (President); His Worship the Mayor Robert Lyon (Vice-President) along with other notable gentlemen. The Young Men's Christian Association was incorporated 1868 – On April 7, Thomas D'Arcy McGee is assassinated. Patrick J. Whelan is found guilty on circumstantial evidence and is hanged at the Nicholas Street Jail on February 11, 1869.