4 Fifth W. |
Ontario Tourism Region : The Great Waterway
Description From Owner:
- Pop. 2,538. In Williamsburgh T., Dundas C., on the St. Lawrence R. and C. Rds. 2 & 31, 43 kIn SW of Cornwall.
- Morrisburg was a tiny frontier settlement in 1813 when an American force of more than 4,000 men marched down the shores of the St. Lawrence R. towards John Crysler's farm near the site of the present village.
- The Americans were met and defeated by 800 Canadian militia, British regulars and First Nations Peoples supporters.
- The actual battle site was flooded in 1958 by the St. Lawrence Deep Waterway Project, but the battle is commemorated at Upper Canada Village a few kms east of Morrisburg.
- The community was frrst called West Williamsburg but was renamed in 1851 after the Hon. James Morris, postmaster-general for Canada 1851-1853.
- Sir James Pliny Whitney (1843-1914) was born in the township and first elected to the Ontario legislature in 1888 where he served as leader of the opposition for nine years.
- With the Liberal defeat in 1905 he became Ontario's sixth premier, a post he held until his death.
Address of this page: http://www.ruralroutes.com/morrisburg