Fort Frederick (Kingston, Ontario) facts for kids
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| Location | Kingston, Ontario, Canada |
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| Type | Earthworks surrounding a Martello tower. |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Official name | Fort Frederick, Kingston |
| Part of | Rideau Canal |
| Criteria | Cultural: (i)(iv) |
| Inscription | 2007 (31st Session) |
| Area | 3.1 ha (330,000 sq ft) |
| Buffer zone | 3 ha (320,000 sq ft) |
Fort Frederick is a historic military building in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. It stands on Point Frederick, which is part of the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC). The fort was built in 1846 during a time when there were disagreements between the United States and Britain over the Oregon boundary dispute.
Fort Frederick is made up of large earth walls (called earthworks) that surround a strong, round stone building known as a Martello tower. This important site is recognized as part of two different National Historic Sites of Canada: the Kingston Fortifications and the Point Frederick Buildings.
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History of Fort Frederick
Fort Frederick is located at the southern tip of Point Frederick. This area was once home to the Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard, a place where navy ships were built and repaired. Both the point and the fort were named after Frederick, Prince of Wales.
Early Defenses and the War of 1812
The very first fort here was just earth walls. It was built during the War of 1812 to protect against attacks from the sea. On November 10, 1812, the cannons at Fort Frederick helped to push back an American naval fleet. This fleet was led by Commodore Isaac Chauncey.
Building the Martello Tower
In 1846, four stone Martello towers were constructed to make Kingston's defenses even stronger. This was during the Oregon boundary dispute between the United States and Britain. These towers were meant to protect the shipyard and the entrances to the Rideau Canal and St. Lawrence River. They guarded against possible attacks from the United States.
Fort Frederick's Martello tower was built on the same spot as the original earth fort. The other three towers were Cathcart Tower, Murney Tower, and Shoal Tower. Fort Frederick was no longer used as a military fort after 1870.
Fort Frederick Today
Today, Fort Frederick is a special outdoor area for cadets at the Royal Military College of Canada. It's a place where all cadets are treated as equals, no matter their rank. They can relax and take off their hats here. The Martello tower itself is now home to the RMC Museum.
A Prime Minister's Connection
Interestingly, Alexander Mackenzie worked as a foreman when the Fort Frederick Martello Tower was being built. He later became Canada's second prime minister.
One time, Prime Minister Mackenzie visited Fort Frederick without telling anyone. He was looking for a spot for a new military college. He asked the officer in charge, Colonel de la C.T. Irwin, if he knew how thick the outside wall was. When the colonel couldn't answer, Prime Minister Mackenzie said, "It's 5 feet 6 inches, I know for I built it myself!"
A Place for New Recruits
Between 1909 and 1919, when Archibald Macdonnell was in charge of RMC, the upper floors of Fort Frederick were used as a common room. This was a shared space for cadets. However, after some older cadets rolled cannonballs down the stairs, the space was changed. It became a safe place for new recruits.
In 1971, the RMC class of 1931 gave Fort Frederick wooden gates and a plaque. This was to remember the days when the fort was a refuge for new students.
Legacy
On June 28, 1985, Canada Post released a stamp called 'Fort Frederick, Ont.' It was part of a series of stamps featuring "Forts Across Canada."
