The Boston Conservatory

Notre Dame High School (Toronto 1949 - Congregation of Notre Dame). HMS Sir Issac Brock being built in York Both sides engaged in building freshwater fleets in an effort to gain naval supremacy in Lake Ontario York the capital of Upper Canada stood on the north shore of Lake Ontario During the War of 1812 the lake was both the front line between Upper Canada and the United States and served as the principal British supply line from Quebec to the various forces and outposts to the west At the start of the war the British had a small naval force the Provincial Marine with which they seized control of the Lake Ontario and Lake Erie This was made it possible because of Major General Isaac Brock who led British forces in Upper Canada to several important victories in 1812 by shifting his small force rapidly between threatened points to defeat disjointed American attacks individually The United States Navy appointed Commodore Isaac Chauncey to regain control of the lakes He created a squadron of fighting ships at Sackett's Harbor New York by purchasing and arming several lake schooners and laying down new purpose-built fighting vessels However no decisive action was possible before the onset of winter during which the ships of both sides were confined to harbour by ice to match Chauncey's shipbuilding efforts the British laid down the sloop of war Wolfe at Kingston; and HMS Sir Isaac Brock at York Naval Shipyards Prelude.

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