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The Naval Shipyards were naval shipbuilding facilities used by the
Numerous builders at mouth of Rouge River 1810–1856
After the War of 1812, shipbuilding yards in Toronto were typically held in private hands. Cooper's Wharf slip was another early 19th century shipbuilder in Toronto and remained in operations until 1845.
Polson Iron Works Limited was established in Toronto in 1883, was a major builder of steamers into the 1900s. Located at the foot of Sherbourne Street, Polson produced around 150 assorted vessels, including ten steel-hulled
In the 20th century, shipbuilding activity remained dormant (other than Toronto Drydock Company) until the start of World War II with demand for war ships. Several shipbuilding enterprises emerged including:
* Dufferin Shipbuilding Company 1940 – acquires Keating Channel site from the former Dominion Shipbuilding site
* Toronto Shipbuilding Company 1941 – renamed from Dufferin after take over by the Canadian government
* Redfern Construction Company 1943 – renamed from Toronto Shipbuilding and closed 1945
List of Vessels Employed on British Naval Service on the Great Lakes, 1755–1875
{{Royal Navy shore establishments Naval history of Canada Royal Navy bases in Canada Royal Canadian Navy dockyards Military installations closed in 1813 Military installations established in 1798 1798 establishments in Upper Canada 1813 disestablishments in Upper Canada History of shipbuilding in Ontario Military history of the Great Lakes
Provincial Marine
The Provincial Marine or Marine Department was a coastal protection service in charge of the waters in the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River and parts of Lake Champlain under British control. While ships of the Provincial Marine were design ...
and the Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
in York
York is a cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England, with Roman Britain, Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire, Ouse and River Foss, Foss. It has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a Yor ...
, Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada () was a Province, part of The Canadas, British Canada established in 1791 by the Kingdom of Great Britain, to govern the central third of the lands in British North America, formerly part of the Province of Queb ...
(present day Toronto
Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
). The naval shipyard
A shipyard, also called a dockyard or boatyard, is a place where ships are shipbuilding, built and repaired. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Compared to shipyards, which are sometimes m ...
s were ordered by the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada John Graves Simcoe
Lieutenant-General (United Kingdom), Lieutenant-General John Graves Simcoe (25 February 1752 – 26 October 1806) was a British army officer, politician and colonial administrator who served as the lieutenant governor of Upper Canada from 1791 u ...
in 1793, and were opened in 1798.
History
The shipyards were called for by Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe in 1793 and operated from 1798. The shipyards were situated on Humber Bay, near the western edge of the settlement (east of the ruins of Fort Rouille) and located south of Front Street on the shores of Lake Ontario west of Bay Street (today this is where the rail tracks south of Union Station are located). Ships were built along the sand shores using the trees from the forests inland and launched into Toronto Bay. Several ships were built for theProvincial Marine
The Provincial Marine or Marine Department was a coastal protection service in charge of the waters in the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River and parts of Lake Champlain under British control. While ships of the Provincial Marine were design ...
and the Royal Navy during the 1810s, including the schooner ''Prince Regent
A prince regent or princess regent is a prince or princess who, due to their position in the line of succession, rules a monarchy as regent in the stead of a monarch, e.g., as a result of the sovereign's incapacity (minority or illness) or ab ...
'' in 1812 (later renamed HMS ''Beresford'' in 1813, as HMS ''Netley'' 1814 and finally base ship HMS ''Niagara''; broken up 1843).
During the Battle of York
The Battle of York was a War of 1812 battle fought in York, Upper Canada (today's Toronto, Ontario, Canada) on April 27, 1813. An American force, supported by a naval flotilla, landed on the western lakeshore and captured the provincial capital ...
, Major General Roger Hale Sheaffe dispatched Captain Tito LeLievre of the Royal Newfoundland Fencibles to the naval dockyards to set fire to the incomplete sloop-of-war . After the Battle of York, a naval squadron was stationed at York, and assisted with transporting wounded soldiers from the Niagara front to the medical hospital established at Fort York
Fort York is an early 19th-century military fortification in the Fort York neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The fort housed members of the British and Canadian militaries and defended the entrance to Toronto Harbour. The fort featu ...
. However, although private shipbuilding resumed in York
York is a cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England, with Roman Britain, Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire, Ouse and River Foss, Foss. It has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a Yor ...
, the naval yards did not build any other navy ships after 1813 and abandoned and likely moved to a safer and more protected location in Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard.
Post-military history
Numerous builders at mouth of Rouge River 1810–1856
After the War of 1812, shipbuilding yards in Toronto were typically held in private hands. Cooper's Wharf slip was another early 19th century shipbuilder in Toronto and remained in operations until 1845.
Polson Iron Works Limited was established in Toronto in 1883, was a major builder of steamers into the 1900s. Located at the foot of Sherbourne Street, Polson produced around 150 assorted vessels, including ten steel-hulled minesweeper
A minesweeper is a small warship designed to remove or detonate naval mines. Using various mechanisms intended to counter the threat posed by naval mines, minesweepers keep waterways clear for safe shipping.
History
The earliest known usage of ...
s for the Royal Canadian Navy
The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN; , ''MRC'') is the Navy, naval force of Canada. The navy is one of three environmental commands within the Canadian Armed Forces. As of February 2024, the RCN operates 12 s, 12 s, 4 s, 4 s, 8 s, and several auxiliary ...
and Royal Navy, and six cargo vessels during World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. The company declared bankruptcy shortly after the end of the war and closed in 1919.
Several other ship builders were also based at the Bathurst Street Wharf. They include:
* Doty Engine Works 1890 new shipyard at Lakeshore and Spadina
* Bertram Engineering Works 1893 Doty yard changes owners
* Canadian Shipbuilding Company 1905 – acquired Bertram site but company fails by 1908
* Toronto Shipyards 1908 – took over from Canadian Shipbuilding and remains in operations until 1910
* Thor Iron Works 1913 – acquire vacant Toronto Shipyards
* Dominion Shipbuilding and Repair Company Limited 1917 – renamed from Thor and operated at both Spadina Avenue and Bathurst Street as well as Keating Channel building mostly cargo ships for Canadian and overseas buyers as well as yacht Oriole IV which later became HMCS Oriole; folded 1920 after strike with last two ships completed by Collingwood Shipyards
World War II
In the 20th century, shipbuilding activity remained dormant (other than Toronto Drydock Company) until the start of World War II with demand for war ships. Several shipbuilding enterprises emerged including:
* Dufferin Shipbuilding Company 1940 – acquires Keating Channel site from the former Dominion Shipbuilding site
* Toronto Shipbuilding Company 1941 – renamed from Dufferin after take over by the Canadian government
* Redfern Construction Company 1943 – renamed from Toronto Shipbuilding and closed 1945
See also
*Provincial Marine
The Provincial Marine or Marine Department was a coastal protection service in charge of the waters in the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River and parts of Lake Champlain under British control. While ships of the Provincial Marine were design ...
* Navy Island Royal Naval Shipyard
* Amherstburg Royal Naval Dockyard
* Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard
References
List of Vessels Employed on British Naval Service on the Great Lakes, 1755–1875
{{Royal Navy shore establishments Naval history of Canada Royal Navy bases in Canada Royal Canadian Navy dockyards Military installations closed in 1813 Military installations established in 1798 1798 establishments in Upper Canada 1813 disestablishments in Upper Canada History of shipbuilding in Ontario Military history of the Great Lakes