History Browser

The tradition of raising the May pole in front of the Militia captain's house, which began in the era of New France, went on in French Canada until the middle of the 19th century.

The third fort on this site, construction began on Fort Chambly in 1709. It was made of stone and looked rather like a castle. This made it different from the low-lying, bastioned fortresses of Europe. The fort was built to be impressive and all but impregnable to Indian enemies and raiding American colonials. The fort wall facing the Richelieu River was pierced for artillery. During the War of 1812, Fort Chambly was the HQ for British and Canadian troops guarding the area south of Montreal against an advance by American armies. The complex fell into ruins during the 19th century. Its walls were stabilized in 1885 when it was made a Canadian government historic park. Recognized as a unique surviving example of military architecture, Fort Chambly was given a major restoration in the 1980s by Parks Canada. This returned the fort to its appearance of the mid-18th century.

This early-20th century print shows the development of Royal Navy officers' uniforms during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. The grouping to the left has the 1787-1795 uniforms, that at right the 1795-1812 uniforms. The officer in scarlet belongs to the Royal Marines, circa 1795. The Admiral (fourth from the right) is Horatio Nelson, Viscount Nelson (1758-1805). To the left stands a captain, to his right a lieutenant. Second from right is a midshipmen (naval officer in training) with the distinctive white collar patches of his rank. (Library of the Canadian Department of National Defence)

The Compañía Fija de San Blas (or 'fixed [i.e. garrison] company of San Blas') was raised in Mexico in 1788 to stand guard at the Spanish naval base at San Blas. A detachment of the unit took over as the garrison at Nootka during 1794-1795. The blue and yellow uniform worn by this man is completed by white gaiter-trousers and a white waistcoat, which records say were issued to the company. The berries this man is enjoying were not an official issue... Reconstruction by David Rickman. (Parks Canada)

The ‘cat of nine tails’ was a whip used to flog soldiers. This one was used in the British 83rd Regiment of Foot. The length of the wooden stick was 43cm (1' 5"), its tails 53cm (1' 9"), and it weighed 141,75 g. (5 ounces). (Library of the Canadian Department of National Defence)

John Nairne (1731-1802) began his miltary career at age 14 by enlisting in the Scots Brigade in Dutch service. He took a lieutenant's commission in the 78th (Highland) Regiment of Foot, fighting with Wolfe at the siege of Quebec. After the Seven Years' War, Nairne settled in Canada and became seigneur of La Malbaie. When the American Revolution broke out, the old soldier was soon back in uniform with the 1st battalion of the Royal Highland Emigrants. As usually happened with seigneurs that had military experience, Nairne became colonel of the local militia unit. The print shows him circa 1795 as a colonel in the Lower Canada Sedentary Militia.

This oval brass belt-plate is the pattern issued to the Royal Canadian Volunteers. This two battalion British regular regiment was raised in Canada, and existed between 1795 and 1802. These belt-plates were used to link the two leather belts worn by British soldiers at this time, and most units had a style of plate that was particular to them. In this case, the design is fairly simple - the 'GR' cypher of King George III of Great Britain, surrounded by the unit's title 'ROYAL CANADIAN VOLUNTEER BATTN'. Portraits of the regiment’s officers show that they did not use this pattern of belt-plate, having at least two different versions of their own. (Private collection)

This impressive photo collection gives you a chance to see more than 40 000 beautiful images of Canada's national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas. Search by keyword, type of heritage area, province or territory, name of heritage area.

This print shows a classic European vision of scalping. The process was widespread amongst both the forest and plains Amerindians, and dates back to at least the early 16th century. Scalps were viewed as trophies of war, part of a ritual act of retribution on an enemy.

Simcoe (1752-1806) was a British career officer who brilliantly led the Queen's Rangers (1st American Regiment), a Loyalist unit, during the American Revolutionary War. In 1791, Simcoe was appoint Lieutenant Governor of the new province of Upper Canada (now Ontario). He organized the provincial militia following the English county militia system, which proved to be very efficient. This portrait shows Simcoe in the uniform of a staff officer, and is based on a miniature given by the Simcoe family to noted Canadian antiquarian Henry Scadding. (Library and Archives Canada, C-008111)