The British negotiators at Ghent—Admiral Lord Gambier, Henry Goulburn, and William Adams—represented Great Britain in the peace talks that ended the War of 1812 with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 1814.
In 1813, American forces invaded and occupied parts of Upper Canada, including Fort George and the village of Niagara, before being driven out by British counterattacks that culminated in the burning of Newark and the capture of Fort Niagara.
The Battle of New Orleans (January 8, 1815) is surrounded by enduring misconceptions, including claims that it was fought after the war ended, that it was a one-day struggle, and that Kentucky riflemen won the day. This article examines those myths and the historical record behind them.
The Battle of York (April 27, 1813) was an American victory that captured the capital of Upper Canada, York (present-day Toronto), during the War of 1812. It boosted American morale but had limited strategic impact and led to the destruction of public buildings and a deadly magazine explosion.
The famous dispatch sent by Oliver Hazard Perry after the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813, explaining its origin, wording, and enduring cultural legacy.
The Creek War of 1813–1814 was a civil war within the Creek Nation that merged with the War of 1812, pitting the Red Sticks against American forces and leading to the Treaty of Fort Jackson and massive land cessions.
During the War of 1812, civilians along the U.S.-Canadian border and in coastal regions faced destruction, displacement, and economic hardship. This article explores how ordinary people, including women, children, and Indigenous peoples, coped with military occupation, looting, and the burning of towns such as Newark and Washington D.C., and how these experiences shaped national identities.
Fought on November 7, 1811, the Battle of Tippecanoe pitted U.S. forces under William Henry Harrison against the Shawnee-led confederacy of Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa. The American victory near the Tippecanoe River destroyed Prophetstown, intensified Indian resistance, and became a major catalyst for the American declaration of war against Britain in 1812.
Seamen’s Protection Certificates, created by the U.S. Congress in 1796, were identity documents issued to American merchant seamen to protect them from British impressment. The applications and registers of these certificates, preserved at the National Archives, have become valuable resources for genealogists researching maritime ancestors from the early republic, including the War of 1812 era.
Major-General Isaac Brock was killed on 13 October 1812 while leading a counter-attack against American invaders at Queenston Heights, Upper Canada, during the Battle of Queenston Heights. His death became a defining moment in Canadian historical memory, cementing his status as a war hero.
