On the morning of July 31, 1813, a U.S. invasion fleet appeared off York (Toronto), after having withdrawn from a planned attack on British positions at Burlington Heights. That afternoon, 300 American soldiers came ashore near here. Their landing was unopposed: there were no British regulars in town, and York 's militia had withdrawn from further combat in return for its freedom during the American invasion three months earlier. The invaders seized food and military supplies, then re-embarked. The next day, they returned to investigate collaborators' reports that valuable stores were concealed up the Don River. Unsuccessful in their search, the Americans contented themselves with burning military installations on nearby Gibraltor Point before they departed.

Location

Near the entrance to Coronation Park, Exhibition Place in the vicinity of the invaders' landing site, Toronto

Themes

• War and conflict