Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: HMS Ontario (1780)
- Type: 22-gun brig–sloop / Provincial Marine armed vessel
- Year Built: 1780
- Builder: Carleton Island (St. Lawrence River)
- Dimensions: Approx. 80 ft (26 m) length; beam ~25 ft (7.6 m); Depth of hold ~500 ft (150–160 m)
- Registered Tonnage:
- Depth at Wreck Site: 150 m / 500 ft
- Location: Southern Lake Ontario, between Niagara and Rochester (exact coordinates undisclosed)
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The HMS Ontario was a two-masted snow-rigged brig-sloop of the British Provincial Marine, armed with 22 cannons. Built at Carleton Island in 1780 during the American Revolutionary War, it served as a transport and patrol vessel on Lake Ontario, carrying troops, supplies, and dispatches between British posts.
Description
The HMS Ontario, a 22-gun brig-sloop of the British Provincial Marine, was lost in a fierce gale on October 31, 1780. Discovered in 2008 in an exceptional state of preservation, it is the oldest fully intact shipwreck in the Great Lakes and one of the most important maritime archaeological finds in North America.
History
On October 31, 1780, Ontario departed Fort Niagara bound for Oswego with an estimated 105–129 people aboard. A sudden, violent gale struck, capsizing and sinking her. No survivors were reported. This remains the single deadliest maritime disaster on Lake Ontario.
Significant Incidents
- October 31, 1780: HMS Ontario capsized and sank during a violent gale, resulting in the loss of an estimated 105–129 lives.
Final Disposition
In May 2008, Jim Kennard and Dan Scoville located the Ontario using side-scan sonar and confirmed the find with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The wreck sits upright on the lakebed, masts still standing, cannons in place, and even glass windows intact — preserved by the cold, oxygen-depleted waters at depth. The exact location is kept secret to protect the site.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The HMS Ontario is exceptionally well preserved; it remains upright on the lakebed with masts, cannons, and windows intact.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”hms-ontario-1780″ title=”References & Links”]
HMS Ontario is the oldest fully intact British warship ever found in the Great Lakes. Its discovery has deepened our understanding of 18th-century shipbuilding and the naval strategies of the American Revolutionary War. As a war grave and protected archaeological site, it stands as a monument to those lost and to the region’s maritime heritage.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
HMS Ontario – Revolutionary War Brig-Sloop Lost in Lake Ontario
The HMS Ontario, a 22-gun brig-sloop of the British Provincial Marine, was lost in a fierce gale on October 31, 1780. Discovered in 2008 in an exceptional state of preservation, it is the oldest fully intact shipwreck in the Great Lakes and one of the most important maritime archaeological finds in North America.
Fast Facts
| Name | HMS Ontario (1780) |
| Type | 22-gun brig–sloop / snow-rigged Provincial Marine armed vessel |
| Year Built | 1780, Carleton Island (St. Lawrence River) |
| Dimensions | Approx. 80 ft (26 m) length; beam ~25 ft (7.6 m) |
| Depth of Wreck | ~500 ft (150–160 m) |
| Location | Southern Lake Ontario, between Niagara and Rochester (exact coordinates undisclosed) |
| Condition | Upright on lakebed; masts, cannons, and windows intact |
| Lives Lost | Estimated 105–129; largest known loss of life on Lake Ontario |
| Discovery | 2008 by Jim Kennard & Dan Scoville via side-scan sonar and ROV |
Table of Contents
- Identification & Site Information
- Vessel Type & History
- Final Voyage & Loss
- Discovery & Preservation
- WarSearcher Diorama Gallery
- 3D Reconstructions & Videos
- Significance & Legacy
- Sources Used
- Resources & Further Reading
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: HMS Ontario (1780)
- Type: 22-gun brig–sloop / Provincial Marine armed vessel – Wikipedia
- Year Built: 1780, Carleton Island (St. Lawrence River) – Discover Niagara
- Dimensions: Approx. 80 ft (26 m) length; beam ~25 ft (7.6 m) – ShipwreckWorld
- Depth of Wreck: ~500 ft (150–160 m) – Archaeology Magazine
- Location: Southern Lake Ontario, between Niagara and Rochester (exact site undisclosed)
- Condition: Exceptionally well preserved; upright with masts, cannons, and windows intact – The Scuba News
- Discovery Date: Located in 2008 by Jim Kennard & Dan Scoville via side-scan sonar and ROV – RIT News
Vessel Type & History
The HMS Ontario was a two-masted snow-rigged brig-sloop of the British Provincial Marine, armed with 22 cannons. Built at Carleton Island in 1780 during the American Revolutionary War, it served as a transport and patrol vessel on Lake Ontario, carrying troops, supplies, and dispatches between British posts.
Final Voyage & Loss
On October 31, 1780, Ontario departed Fort Niagara bound for Oswego with an estimated 105–129 people aboard. A sudden, violent gale struck, capsizing and sinking her. No survivors were reported. This remains the single deadliest maritime disaster on Lake Ontario.
Discovery & Preservation
In May 2008, Jim Kennard and Dan Scoville located the Ontario using side-scan sonar and confirmed the find with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The wreck sits upright on the lakebed, masts still standing, cannons in place, and even glass windows intact — preserved by the cold, oxygen-depleted waters at depth. The exact location is kept secret to protect the site.
3D Reconstructions & Videos
A 3D digital reconstruction of HMS Ontario appeared in the National Geographic series Drain the Oceans (American Revolutionary War episode). Highlights of the segment can be viewed here: Watch on Military.com
Ray Peacock’s Model Build Series:
- Part 1 – Building the Ontario Model
- Part 2 – Storm and Sinking Analysis
- Part 3 – Finishing the Model
Significance & Legacy
HMS Ontario is the oldest fully intact British warship ever found in the Great Lakes. Its discovery has deepened our understanding of 18th-century shipbuilding and the naval strategies of the American Revolutionary War. As a war grave and protected archaeological site, it stands as a monument to those lost and to the region’s maritime heritage.
Sources Used
- Arthur Britton Smith – Legend of the Lake: The 22-gun Brig-sloop Ontario 1780 (New Discovery Edition, Quarry Heritage Books, 2015)
- Robert Malcomson – Warships of the Great Lakes: 1754–1834 (Naval Institute Press, 2001)
- Jim Kennard – Shipwrecks of Lake Ontario: A Journey of Discovery (Great Lakes Historical Society, 2019)
- Ray Peacock – YouTube Model Build Series
- WarSearcher – The Ontario Wreck Diorama
- National Geographic – Drain the Oceans
Resources & Further Reading
- Wikipedia – HMS Ontario
- ShipwreckWorld – Discovery Article
- Discover Niagara – Ontario History
- Archaeology Magazine – Underwater Discovery
- The Scuba News – HMS Ontario
- RIT News – Discovery Interview
WarSearcher Diorama Gallery
The following gallery showcases the WarSearcher diorama of HMS Ontario, which interprets her design, armament, and final moments before the sinking. All images Alex Comber © WarSearcher – used with permission.
© Crown copyright. National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
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