War Experience
The Royal Navy and British Army supported by Canadian regulars, Canadian militia, and First Peoples warriors, successfully defended Canada against repeated invasions.
British Regulars
The British Army provided a body of disciplined professionals that could stand in the line of battle, as well as specialist gunners, engineers, medical personnel, and staff officers.
The Battle of Queenston Heights
The Battle of Queenston Heights, 13 October 1812
Print by John David Kelly, 1896 Library and Archives Canada, 1954-153-1
Brock’s Coat
Officer’s Coat
CWM 19670070-009
General Brock's Coatee : Under a New Light
The Royal Navy
The Royal Navy secured the sea lanes that carried supplies to the colonies while, in the interior, its warships fought for control of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain.
Captain Sir William Mulcaster, Royal Navy
Captain Sir William Howe Mulcaster
Painted by Jean-Louis Canon in 1830 Beaverbrook Collection of War Art CWM 19840133-006
The War of 1812 on the Pacific Coast
Fort George, Formerly Astoria
Print by Sir Henry James Warre, 1848 Library and Archives Canada, 1970-188-459(A) l
Colonial Regulars
Colonial regulars, drawn from Britain and British subjects in the colonies, formed a vital part of the effort to repel American invasions of Canada.
Charles de Salaberry at the Battle of the Châteauguay
The Battle of Châteauguay
Painting by E.H. de Holmfield in 1896 Château Ramezay Museum and Historic Site of Montreal, Quebec, 1998.1776
The 104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot
Captain William Bradley’s Portable Writing Desk, 104th Regiment of Foot
CWM 19900070-001
Civilians Under Arms
Canadian civilians went to war in the militia and aboard privateers.
Military General Service Medal, 1793–1814
Military General Service Medal, 1793–1814 with Bar: Crysler’s Farm, Joseph Plamondon, Canadian Militia
Tilston Memorial Collection of Canadian Military Medals CWM 19750150-001
Privateers
Capture of Snap Dragon by The Martin, 1813
Painting by Irwin John Bevan, around 1852-1940, The Mariners’ Museum, Newport News, Virginia, 1940.0969.000001
First Peoples Warriors
First Peoples served in the War of 1812 as independent allies of the Crown.
Tekarihogen (John Brant)
Ahyouwaighs, Chief of the Six-Nations (John Brant)
Painting by Charles Bird King, 1838, Library and Archives Canada, C-123161
The Assiginack Canoe
The Assiginack Canoe
CMC 1969-038-001 a-n
Caught up in War
Most Canadians were not directly affected by the war. For those who were, it could be a devastating experience.
Laura Secord
Meeting Between Laura Secord and Lieut. Fitzgibbon, June 1813
Painting by Lorne K. Smith, 1920 Library and Archives Canada, C-011053.
A Symbol of Brutality
Sermons on Several Subjects
Addison Library, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario