Discover Ontario's history as told through its plaques
2004 - Now in our 15th Year - 2019
To find out all about me, you can visit the Home Page
Looking at this page on a smartphone?
For best viewing, hold your phone
in Landscape mode (Horizontal)
William Hamilton Merritt 1793-1862
Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted August, 2004
Photo by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted October, 2010
Photo Source - Wikipedia
Plaque Location
The Region of Niagara
The City of St. Catharines
On the southeast corner of
St. Paul Street West and McGuire Street
just east of the bridge over Highway 406
Coordinates: N 43 09.254 W 79 14.767 |
 |
Plaque Text
A pioneer in the field of transportation, Merritt was born in Bedford, New York, and settled at Twelve Mile Creek (St. Catharines) with his Loyalist family in 1796. He served with the provincial cavalry during the War of 1812, then operated mercantile and milling enterprises here. Primarily responsible for the construction of the first Welland Canal (1824-33), Merritt worked tirelessly to promote this ambitious venture, both by raising funds and by enlisting government support. During his long tenure in the Legislative Assembly (1832-60) he championed free trade policies and various transportation projects. In particular he advocated building a comprehensive system of canals and railways linking inland waters with the ocean, a scheme which foreshadowed the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway over 100 years later.
Related Ontario plaques
William Hamilton Merritt 1793-1862
United Empire Loyalists
The First Welland Canal 1824-1833
The Construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway
More
Information
More
Entrepreneurs
Here are the visitors' comments for this page.
(none yet)
Here's where you can send me a comment for this page.
Note: Your email address will be posted at the end of your comment so others can respond to you unless you request otherwise.
Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours (usually much sooner).
Note: As soon as I have posted your comment, a reply to your email will be sent informing you.
To send me your comment, click .
Thanks
Alan L Brown
Webmaster
Note: If you wish to send me a personal email, click .