Here's where you can learn a little Ontario history

William Hamilton Merritt 1793-1862

There are two plaques about this gentleman.
The second one can be seen further down this page.

Photo by Alan L Brown - August, 2004

Photo by contributor Wayne Adam - 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.

Photos by contributor Wayne Adam - November, 2009

Plaque Location

The Region of Niagara
The City of St. Catharines
On the east side of Welland Canal Parkway
at the Welland Canals Centre
1.1 km south of Queenston Street (Road 81)

Coordinates: N 43 09.332 W 79 11.645

Plaque Text

Born of a Loyalist family in the state of New York, Merritt became a pioneer merchant and industrialist on Upper Canada's Niagara frontier. In 1818 he began to promote construction of the Welland Canal, of which he became the first general manager (1824-41). Active in provincial politics from 1832 to 1862 as MLA, President of the Executive Council (1848-50) and Commissioner of Public Works (1850-51), he devoted his considerable energies to the economic development of the province through advocacy of such measures as the improvement of the St. Lawrence navigation and limited reciprocal free trade with the United States.

More
Information

More
Entrepreneurs

Here are the comments for this page.

(none yet)

Here's where you can write a comment for this page.

Note: If you wish to ask me a question, please use the email link in the menu.

Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours
(usually much sooner).