Here are events and incumbents from 1815 in Canada.
Incumbents Monarch: George III
Federal government Parliament of Lower Canada: 8th (starting January 21) Parliament of Upper Canada: 6th
Governors Governor of the Canadas: George Prevost then Gordon Drummond Governor of New Brunswick: Thomas Carleton Governor of Nova Scotia: John Coape Sherbrooke Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland: Richard Goodwin Keats Governor of Prince Edward Island: Charles Douglass Smith Governor of Upper Canada: Francis Gore
Events The Great Migration from Europe begins. January – Unaware of the Treaty of Ghent, General Andrew Jackson (1767–1845) wins the Battle of New Orleans. February 9 – A bill to give the speaker a salary of 1,000 pounds is read. February 18 – The United States ratifies treaties signed in December 1814. March 25 – Governor George Prevost informs Parliament that then-prince regent George IV has ordered him to England to answer charges of the naval commander. March – Parliament allocates 25,000 pounds for a canal from Montreal to Lachine.
Births January 10 – John A. Macdonald, politician and 1st Prime Minister of Canada, Born in Glasgow, Scotland. (died 1891) March 7: Thomas Wood, Member of the Legislative Council of Quebec for Bedford, died in office, 1898 June 19 – Cornelius Krieghoff, painter (died 1872) September 18 – Joseph Duquet, notary in Lower Canada, executed in 1838 October 15 – Pierre Antoine Deblois, Senator for La Salle, Quebec, died in office, 1898
Historical documents Text of "Treaty of Peace and Amity Between His Britannic Majesty and the United States of America""Washington, February 18; Proclamation," The Royal Gazette, and Newfoundland Advertiser (March 23, 1815) pg. 2 of 4. See also John Quincy Adams letter on final negotiations before treaty signing, and assessment of treaty (1st column "Extract of a note to Messrs.[....]"), and editorial comment (pg. 4, left column bottom) that "the halcyon calm of peace has succeeded to the bustling scenes of war and[...]News is consequently become an obsolete word." Accessed 29 April 2025
"Satisfaction [after war is not great in U.S.A.] when the whole cost in lives lost, in property destroyed and in property expended" is tallied"Concluding Remarks" A Compendious History of the Late War[....] (1815), pgs. 31–2. Accessed 28 May 2025
John Quincy Adams tells Pres. Madison that larger U.S. Navy would make British better assess "the value of the Objects [in] a new War""To James Madison from John Quincy Adams" (September 27, 1815), U.S. National Archives. Accessed 28 May 2025
U.S. peacetime army includes 14 companies of infantry and riflemen stationed at Detroit and artillery companies at Niagara and Sacket's Harbor"Quebec; Thursday, June 15, 1815; The Peace Establishment[....]," The Quebec Gazette, June 15, 1815 pg. 3 (1st column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. See also description (pg. 2, 2nd column bottom) of tense atmosphere between U.S. troops at Detroit and British (plus 500 Indigenous fighters) at Sandwich. Accessed 15 May 2025
Editorial: "The commencement of the war[...]and the manner [it was conducted in should be] engraven on the minds of[...]British North Anmerica""Quebec; Thursday, April 20, 1815; The Montreal Herald[....]," The Quebec Gazette, April 20, 1815 pg. 3 (1st column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 14 May 2025
William Claus of Indian Affairs department gives words of condolence to Indigenous leaders for loss of many friends and relationsWilliam Claus's words of condolence (April 24, 1815) quoted in Paul Williams and Curtis Nelson, "Kaswentha" (frames 53 and 245), Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Accessed 23 May 2025
Chief asks for articles necessary "to raise provisions for ourselves" and that whites (including traitors) not be allowed among Six NationsTekarihoken's address at Burlington council (April 26, 1815) quoted in Paul Williams and Curtis Nelson, "Kaswentha" (frames 250, 251), Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Accessed 26 May 2025
Red Jacket asks peace between New York State and Grand River Haudenosaunee, who are "not of the same Nations only, but of the same Families"Red Jacket's address at Niagara council (September 1, 1815) quoted in Paul Williams and Curtis Nelson, "Kaswentha" (frame 254), Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Accessed 26 May 2025
John Norton would accept proposed pension for war service, though "all the regret [he] ever had was that [he] was not able to do more"John Norton letter (April 18, 1815), Library and Archives Canada. See also character report favouring Norton. Accessed 23 May 2025
Pres. Madison expects returning Michilimackinac to U.S.A. will end "the confidence and hostility" of British-allied First Nations (note: "Savages" used)Letter of James Madison (May 24, 1815), U.S. National Archives. Accessed 28 May 2025
Long war in Europe might spread to America because "neither party has abandoned [policies that were] the ostensible causes of the late war""Quebec; Thursday, June 8, 1815; We are happy to observe[....]," The Quebec Gazette, June 8, 1815 pg. 2 (4th column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 14 May 2025
Summary of U.K.–U.S. "Commercial Treaty" includes prohibition on British trade with Indigenous people in any part of U.S.A."August 28; Treaty with America," The Royal Gazette, and Newfoundland Advertiser (September 14, 1815) pg. 2 of 2 (righthand page, 2nd column). Accessed 30 April 2025
Editorial: "Crowds of great and illustrious personages, in addition to gamblers, sharpers [etc.]" are in Vienna to settle European concerns"Quebec, January 3, 1815; Crowds of great[....]," The Quebec Mercury (January 3, 1815) pg. 7 (left column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 9 May 2025.
U.S. "envy [of] the superior quality of the soil" in Canada, compared to impressment of its seamen, was "stronger stimulus" to start war"Extracts from D. Anderson's Canada," The Quebec Mercury (January 3, 1815) pg. 5 (left column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. See also excerpts on inhabitants (pg. 3) and agriculture (pg. 3), with further excerpts in subsequent issues. Accessed 9 May 2025.
"To secure us the possession of Canada," suitable vessels will be built on Great Lakes; arms and equipment for them are being prepared"London, Aug. 21," The Quebec Mercury (October 24, 1815) pg. 5 (right column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 12 May 2025.
Commercial/political threats from U.S.A. include future Erie Canal, fort on Lake Champlain and probable fort on St. Lawrence River"Quebec; Thursday, November 2, 1815; In regard to national interests[....]," The Quebec Gazette, November 2, 1815 pg. 2 (4th column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 16 May 2025
Foreword to book on British and U.S. trade says it is important to stop U.S. interference in British North American fishery and shipping"Advertisement" American Encroachments on British Rights (1808/1815), frame 7. Accessed 1 May 2025
John Quincy Adams summarizes negotiation with British over their expulsion of U.S. fishers from British North American waters"14 September 1815" John Quincy Adams Digital Diary, Massachusetts Historical Society. Accessed 28 May 2025
Boston source notes Pres. Madison recommending only U.S. sailors crew U.S. ships, and suggests saying that 4 years ago might have averted war"Boston, March 17," The Royal Gazette, and Newfoundland Advertiser (May 11, 1815) pg. 1 of 4 (lefthand page, 3rd column). Accessed 29 April 2025
John Strachan chastizes Thomas Jefferson with accounts of U.S. depredations in Upper Canada during War of 1812John Strachan to Thomas Jefferson (January 30, 1815). Accessed 15 March 2020
"Ill-fated" Sutherlandshire sees hundreds of families emigrate to Pictou and Red River, "banished to make room for more" sheep"Sutherlandshire" Acadian Recorder (October 28, 1815), pg. 3 (2nd column), Nova Scotia Archives. See also letter (3rd column) with more details of immigrants to Pictou and Red River prospectus (frames 111–12) describing situation of evicted Scots. Accessed 8 May 2025
British and Irish settlers can get land grants of 100 acres in Upper and Lower Canada by supplying testimonials and redeemable deposits"British Provinces in North America; Liberal Encouragement by his Majesty's Government to Settlers inclined to proceed from Great Britain and Ireland(....) (February 22, 1815), University of Alberta Libraries. See also details of settlement offer. Accessed 1 May 2025
Deserting British regulars in Upper and Lower Canada are pardoned if they surrender to officer or magistrate (does not cover militiamen)"Proclamation" (April 25, 1815), The Quebec Gazette, April 27, 1815 pg. 2 (4th column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 14 May 2025
Demise of army bills prompts praise for their benefit to "the Canadas as an easy and an abundant circulating medium" better than gold"Quebec, November 28, 1815; A Proclamation has appeared[....]," The Quebec Mercury (November 28, 1815) pg. 6 (right column bottom), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 12 May 2025.
Map: "A Plan of the Route from Halifax to the River Du Loup on the St. Lawrence," with Chaleur Bay and Minas Basin on right edgeJoseph Bouchette, "A Plan of the Route from Halifax to the River du Loup(....)" (1815; note: BANQ URL on Upper St. John River Valley site is not functional, but map is on Toronto Public Library site). Accessed 21 May 2025
Lower Canada "Lower Canada has not only been exempted in a great measure from the scourge of war but actually blessed with an uncommon degree of prosperity"Robert Easton, "Reasons for Joy and Praise; A Sermon, Preached April 6, 1815 [in Montreal]" (1815), pg. 10 Accessed 28 May 2025
"The termination of the war has already had a wonderful effect on our markets; many articles have fallen 50 pr. cent""Montreal, March 4," The Quebec Mercury (March 7, 1815) pg. 6 (right column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 12 May 2025.
Letter to the editor simply and clearly alleges effect of taxation on merchants and its consequences for others in society"For the Gazette," The Quebec Gazette, March 9, 1815 pg. 2 (4th column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 14 May 2025
"The circulation of the army [bills] on equal terms as with dollars is a proof that [provincial] Bank paper would meet complete confidence""Provincial Bank," The Montreal Herald, February 11, 1815 pg. 2 (5th column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 19 May 2025
"Vaccine inoculation" to be supported with £1,000 shared among appointed physicians in Quebec, Montreal, Trois-Rivières and Gaspé districtsAn Act to encourage and diffuse the practice of Vaccine Inoculation (March 25, 1815), British North American Legislative Database, 1758-1867. See also bilingual instructions for inoculation and report (pg. 2, 4th column) that smallpox "has lately made considerable ravages" near Quebec City. Accessed 28 April 2025
Physician finds inoculation of Indigenous people led to high fever he believes "was occasioned by inebriety, their sole delight""Mr. McAllister, Surgeon[....]" (September 18, 1815), The Quebec Mercury (September 19, 1815) pg. 3 (left column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 12 May 2025.
Eastern Townships farmers are not "sufficiently careful and neat" because uncleared land is near, labour is expensive and winters severeCharles Stewart, "Short View of the Present State of the Eastern Townships in the Province of Lower-Canada(....)" (1815), pg. 5 (frame 3), Toronto Public Library. Accessed 21 May 2025