Discover Ontario's history as told through its plaques
2004 - Now in our 15th Year - 2019
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Capture of the "Somers" and "Ohio"
Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted August, 2004
Photo from Google Street View ©2010 Google - Posted December, 2010
Plaque Location
The Region of Niagara
The Town of Fort Erie
In Crystal Beach, on the west side of the park
at Queen's Circle
Coordinates: N 42 51.955 W 79 03.696 |
 |
Plaque Text
On the night of August 12, 1814, seventy seamen and marines, led by Captain Alexander T. Dobbs, R.N., embarked in this vicinity to attempt the capture of three armed U.S. schooners lying off American-held Fort Erie. One of the six boats used had been carried some 40 km from Queenston, while the others were brought overland from Frenchman's Creek. Masquerading as supply craft, the force boarded and seized the "Somers" and "Ohio", the "Porcupine" alone escaping. Two of the attackers, including their second-in-command, Lieutenant Copleston Radcliffe, R.N., were killed. This daring exploit was the last naval action fought on the Great Lakes during the War of 1812.
Related Ontario plaque
Capture of the "Ohio" and "Somers"
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War of 1812
Here are the visitors' comments for this page.
Posted August 15, 2014
This week marks the bicentennial of this daring capture. The inscription calls it "the last naval action" on the Great Lakes in the War of 1812. Yet two days later, HMS Nancy was attacked in an engagement that involved three US warships (Battle of Nottawasaga Bay). And on Sept. 3 and 5, 1814, the Tigress and Scorpion were captured by the British, the latter vessel after "a sharp fight". See the related pages on this website. -Wayne
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