Royal Navy Shipyard, York (Upper Canada)

From Wikipedia.

This would be referring to the Royal Navy Dockyard there. York, Upper Canada, is now Toronto, Canada.

The yard operated from 1793 to 1813. It actually was in operation before the town of York was even there.
It built only a few ships before being moved to Kingston because it was too easy for the Americans to attack..

SHIPS BUILT:

TORONTO, schooner, wrecked 1817

HMS PRINCE REGENT-- schooner launched 1812. Renamed HMS BEREFORD in 1813

HMS NETLEY in 1814 and finally became the NIAGARA, base ship before being broken up in 1843. //// 

HMS ISAAC BROCK-- incomplete frigate burned on the stocks.

--Brock-Perry

HMS Sir Isaac Brock

From Wikipedia.

Destroyed before it was completed to prevent capture by Americans at York, Upper Canada. I have been writing about this ship in cinjunction with the HMS Duke of Gloucester. The ship was named after British war hero General Sir Isaac Brock and laid down when it was found that Americans were building warships at Sackets Harbor, New York.

At the time, two sloops were laid down at the Royal Naval Dockyards at York (the Brock), the other being built at Kingston, the HMS Wolfe. Both were sloops (I've also seen the Brock called a frigate). Both were begun around the same time.

By the end of April 1813, the Wolfe was nearly ready for launching, but the Brock still many weeks away. Much of the blame for the delay has been placed on shipyard superintendent Thomas Plunkett.

The ships were to be 637 tons and mount 24 guns.

On April 27, 1813, the American fleet and Army attacked York causing the British to retreat to Kingston. The Brock was burned to prevent capture.

--Brock-Perry

Kingston, Canada's Ships: HMS Duke of Gloucester

Earlier I listed and wrote a little about the ships built at the Kingston, Canada, Royal Navy Dockyard, but now will go into more detail about these ships. Quite a few were involved in the War of 1812.

These are taken from Wikipedia.

HMS DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, a ten-gun brig launched at the Kingston Navy Dockyard in 1812. It carried ten 12-pdr. cannons. On July 19, 1812, along with the HMS Growler, it engaged the U.S. schooner Julia at Sackets Harbor, NY.

It was repairing at York, capital of Upper Canada (now Toronto), when the Americans captured the town. It managed to escape, but British commander General Sir Roger Hale Sheaffe ordered its sister ship, the HMS Sir Isaac Brock destroyed to prevent capture. Wikipedia referred to the Brock as a frigate, but it couldn't have been if it was a sister ship to the Duke of Gloucester.

The Duke of Gloucester was destroyed by the British 29 May 1813 at the Battle of Sackets Harbor.

---Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Time Line: April 1813-- Part 2

From www.historicplaces.ca.

APRIL--  Construction began to strengthen Coteau-du-Lac in Lower Canada.  This was an important link between Upper and Lower Canada.

APRIL 3RD--  Engagement on the Rappahannock River, Virgina.  Boats from Royal Navy capture four American vessels.

APRIL 6TH--  Royal Navy vessels bombard Lewes, Delaware.

APRIL 15TH--  Spanish Fort Charlotte in western Florida captured by American troops.

APRIL 27TH--  Battle of York, Upper Canada (Toronto).  American Brigadier General Zebulon Pike attacks the town.  British Major General Sir Robert Hale Sheaffe ordered the sloop Sir Isaac Brock burned and the powder magazine at Fort York blown up.

The magazine explosion caused several hundred American casualties.  General Pike was fatally wounded in it as well. 

Sheaffe took his regulars to Kingston and left the Canadian militia to defend York.  Americans occupied the town and destroyed private and public property.

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry