United States & the Rideau Canal

After the War of 1812-14, Britain began to take the defence of its North American colonies more seriously. There were only two choices: either spend the money to defend British North America properly, or withdraw completely and let the United States have it. The Duke of Wellington, fresh from the Napoleonic Wars, was assigned to design forts and other defences that would keep the Canadas and the Atlantic colonies safe from American invasion.

Wellington's plan depended on a safe shipping route between Quebec and Toronto. He needed a canal built far away from the border, connecting the Ottawa River with Lake Ontario. In 1826, Lieutenant-Colonel John By of the Royal Engineers arrived to build the canal. The entrance to the canal from the Ottawa River lay between two great cliffs overlooking the river. On the higher one to the west he built barracks, officers' quarters and a hospital.

Six years later, when the canal was complete, it was an engineering marvel but it had cost a fortune. The British Government was not impressed. Colonel By was called home in disgrace to explain his extravagance. There wasn't enough money to finish Wellington's plan. The canal was never used as intended, but it did become a very busy route for commercial traffics, and is hugely popular for recreation even today.