John Dennis, Master Shipbuilder-- Part 3: York Shipyard

John Dennis became the master shipbuilder of the government dockyards at Kingston.  He received that appointemnt in 1803 and held it for ten years.

In 1812, after the war began, Dennis transferred back to York to complete a ship under construction there.  When the Americans captured York in April 1813, they destroyed the ship.

Provincial Marine officials decided to close the vulnerable York Shipyard and to transfer John Dennis back to Kingston, but the Royal Navy had by then taken it over.  Dennis did not want to subordinate himself to British personnel and was dismissed.

--Brock-Perry