Major Figures of the War of 1812

Brock, Tecumseh, Secord and Salaberry. These names probably sound familiar to you. Where have you heard them? Do they remind you of local parks, street names, buildings, Canadian cities, or maybe your favourite chocolates?

Their presence in our everyday lives is no coincidence. There were many heroes and heroines of the War of 1812, many unsung, but Major-General Sir Isaac Brock, Tecumseh, Laura Secord, and Charles-Michel de Salaberry stood out from the others. Discover how these figures were involved in the War of 1812 and why they came to be known as heroes today.

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  Major-General Sir Isaac Brock, Hero of Upper Canada

  Major-General Sir Isaac Brock was a member of the British Army, stationed in Canada in the early 1800s. With the arrival of war in 1812, he initiated an aggressive campaign to defend Upper Canada. His most courageous exploit occurred when he led a force of Army regulars and First Nations warriors in the successful capture of Detroit. Learn More
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  Tecumseh, Shawnee War Chief

  Tecumseh was a Shawnee chief and leader of a large tribal confederacy that opposed American territorial expansion. He joined the British commander of Upper Canada, Major-General Sir Isaac Brock in the battle to capture Detroit and his support helped Brock secure this British victory. Learn More
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  Laura Secord, Heroine of Beaver Dams

  In June of 1813, Queenston was still occupied by American troops when Laura Secord and her husband James were forced to host some American officers in their home. That’s when she overheard the Americans plan to surprise the British outpost at Beaver Dams and capture the officer in charge, Lieutenant James FitzGibbon. Laura Secord set out to deliver this message to the British herself. Learn More
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  Charles-Michel d’Irumberry de Salaberry, Hero of Châteauguay

  Charles de Salaberry served as an officer of the British army in Lower Canada (now Quebec). He is best known for the Battle of Châteauguay in October of 1813, where about 1,700 Canadians helped repel around 3,000 American troops and Montreal was saved from a large-scale attack. Learn More