HMS ONTARIO holds a significant place in maritime history as the largest British warship to navigate the Great Lakes. Constructed in 1780 on Carleton Island, which was a key British base during the Revolutionary War and is now part of New York, the vessel served as an armed transport under the Royal Navy for the Provincial Marine. Despite being launched just five months prior, the HMS ONTARIO quickly became an integral part of the transportation network, ferrying troops, supplies, and prisoners across remote regions of New York.
Tragically, on October 31, 1780, while en route from Fort Niagara to Oswego, the HMS ONTARIO encountered a severe storm that led to its demise. It is estimated that approximately 130 men lost their lives in the sinking, including 60 British soldiers, 40 Canadian crew members, and potentially up to 30 American prisoners of war. The shipwreck remained hidden beneath the depths of Lake Ontario for over two centuries.
In 2008, the remarkable discovery of the HMS ONTARIO was made by Jim Kennard and Dan Scoville. Their exploration revealed that the shipwreck had remained largely intact since its tragic sinking in the 18th century. Resting at a depth of 492 feet between Niagara and Rochester, the ONTARIO stands as the oldest shipwreck and the only fully preserved British warship ever found in the Great Lakes.
Additional information about the HMS ONTARIO can be found in the collection of C. Patrick Labadie. The historical records indicate that the brig, measuring 68 feet in length, 25 feet in beam, and 9 feet in depth, had a tonnage of 231. Its final location was determined to be approximately 4.5 miles northeast of Oswego, New York, in Lake Ontario. The vessel was carrying soldiers, gold, and silver at the time of its sinking, which occurred during a blizzard and gale. However, it is worth noting that there are discrepancies among different reports regarding the exact details of the tragedy. Ultimately, all hands on board, estimated to be between 172 and 350 men, perished in the unfortunate event that took place on November 1, 1780.
