Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Niagara (formerly HMS Royal George)
- Type: Sloop-of-war / armed vessel
- Year Built: 1809
- Builder: Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard
- Dimensions: Length: 96 ft 9 in (29.5 m); Beam: 27 ft 7 in (8.4 m); Depth of hold: 11 ft (3.4 m)
- Registered Tonnage: ~330 tons (bm)
- Location: Kingston Harbour, east side of Navy Bay
- Official Number: British registry
- Original Owners: Provincial Marine, Royal Navy
- Number of Masts: Square-rigged
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Built under the authority of the Provincial Marine, with design by John Dennis, as a square-rigged corvette.
Initially armed with carronades for shore and squadron combat; hull configuration strong for inland naval warfare.
Description
The Niagara, originally named HMS Royal George, was a sloop-of-war that served as the flagship of the Provincial Marine and later the Royal Navy Lake Ontario Squadron. She was constructed of wood and had a robust design suitable for naval engagements on the Great Lakes.
History
Built between February and July 1809 at Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard, the vessel was inactive until 1811 due to trade restrictions. She entered service under the Provincial Marine and participated in several key naval engagements during the War of 1812, including the attack on Sacketts Harbor and the Battle of Kingston Harbour.
Renamed Niagara in January 1814, she continued to serve post-war as a transport vessel until her sale in 1837.
Significant Incidents
- July 19, 1812: Participated in the attack on Sacketts Harbor, engaging USS Oneida.
- October 1, 1812: Conducted a raid on the Genesee River, capturing American vessels.
- November 10, 1812: Engaged in the Battle of Kingston Harbour, retreating under British shore fire.
Final Disposition
The Niagara was abandoned circa 1814 in Kingston Harbour. Reports from 1845 indicate that her remains were still visible above the waterline. The hulk remained in Navy Bay for decades before being dismantled or decayed, with no formal scuttling or diving records.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Niagara is not submerged in deep waters but rather grounded or abandoned in shallow Kingston Harbour. There are no confirmed underwater archaeological surveys or dive records for this vessel.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”niagara-royal-george-1809″ title=”References & Links”]
The Niagara holds historical significance as a flagship during the War of 1812, representing British naval operations on Lake Ontario. Its legacy continues to be a point of interest for maritime historians and archaeologists.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Former Name(s): HMS Royal George (Provincial Marine, Royal Navy); renamed Niagara in January 1814 (Wikipedia)
- Official Number: British registry
- Year Built / Launched: February – July 1809 at Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard, Point Frederick, Kingston, Ontario (Wikipedia)
- Vessel Type: Sloop-of-war / armed vessel
- Role: Flagship of the Provincial Marine, later Royal Navy Lake Ontario Squadron
- Armament: Initially 20 × 32‑pdr carronades; by 1814: 18 × 32‑pdr carronades, 2 × 18‑pdr long guns, 1 × 24‑pdr gun; later broadside updated (Wikipedia)
- Dimensions:
- Construction Material: Wood
Vessel Type & Configuration
- Built under the authority of the Provincial Marine, with design by John Dennis, as a square‑rigged corvette
- Initially armed with carronades for shore and squadron combat; hull configuration strong for inland naval warfare (Wikipedia)
Career & Operational History
- 1809–1811: Built but inactive until the easing of trade restrictions; then entered service under Provincial Marine
- July 19, 1812: Participated in attack on Sacketts Harbor, leading alongside Prince Regent, engaged USS Oneida; wind faltered, British withdrew (Wikipedia)
- October 1, 1812: Conducted raid on Genesee River, captured American schooner Lady Murray and revenue cutter (Wikipedia)
- November 10, 1812: Engaged in Battle of Kingston Harbour—shores batteries defended her successfully, with minor casualties; she retreated into harbour under British shore fire (Wikipedia)
- May 1813: With Commodore Sir James Yeo assuming command, she was refitted and placed in Royal Navy service under Commander William Mulcaster (Wikipedia)
- Renamed “Niagara” on 22 January 1814 (Wikipedia)
- Post‑war: Converted to transport duty; remained laid up at Kingston; sold in 1837 (Wikipedia)
Final Disposition
- Location: Kingston Harbour, east side of Navy Bay
- Date of Abandonment: circa 1814 (post‑war), remains reportedly visible into the 1840s; by 1845 observers still noted visible remains above waterline (HMDB)
- Fate: Hulks remained in Navy Bay for decades before dismantling or decay; no formal scuttling, no diving record; no preserved hull extant
Archaeological Context
- Although built at Kingston Dockyard, Royal George/Niagara did not sink in deep waters; rather, remained grounded or abandoned in shallow Kingston Harbour
- Archival mentions from 1845 indicate visible remains; vessels built during the war were later broken up or sold off
- Comparable wrecks such as HMS St. Lawrence remain underwater near Kingston and are researched by Parks Canada—but Royal George has no confirmed underwater archaeological survey or dive records (Wikipedia, Wikipedia)
Historical Significance
- Flagship of British inland naval operations during the War of 1812; central to strategy and show of force on Lake Ontario
- Took part in major engagements, including Sacketts Harbor assault and defence of Kingston in 1812—marks pivotal Lake Ontario naval theatre actions (Wikipedia)
- Represents transitional period from Provincial Marine to Royal Navy command, signaling British escalation in naval infrastructure (shock build at Kingston dockyard)
- Built locally and directly contributed to British maritime dominance on the lakes.
Resources & Links (Full Citations)
- HMS Royal George (1809) – Wikipedia article detailing design, armament, career, renaming, and fate (Royal George → Niagara → sold 1837) (Wikipedia)
- Battle of Kingston Harbour – Summary of the November 10, 1812 action and Royal George’s role in resisting American assault (Wikipedia)
- Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard – Overview of the dockyard operation, shipbuilding activity, and wartime expansion (Wikipedia)
- Engagements on Lake Ontario – Context for fleet actions including Royal George maneuvering and Wolfe engagement (Wikipedia)
- Great Lakes Museum at Kingston – Archives and exhibit centre located in Kingston Dry Dock, with documentation and artifacts from the 1812 naval era (Wikipedia)
- HMS Royal George Fandom / Military Wiki – Details summary of ship specifications and legacy (Military Wiki)
- Historical Marker Database: Escape of the Royal George 1812 – Local marker transcript confirming hull visibility in 1845 (HMDB)
- BSAC wooden shipwreck survey report mention – Contemporary referencing of Royal George wreck hazard projects (UK, though different ship) (British Sub-Aqua Club)’=
- Lyon, David; Winfield, David (2004). The Sail & Steam Navy List: All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815–1889. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 1-86176-032-9.
- Malcomson, Robert (2001) [1998]. Lords of the Lake: The Naval War on Lake Ontario 1812–1814 (Paperback ed.). Toronto: Robin Brass Studio. ISBN 1-896941-24-9.
- Malcomson, Robert (2001). Warships of the Great Lakes 1754–1834. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 1-8617-6115-5.
- Winfield, Rif (2005). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 1-86176-246-1.
- David Lyon (1997). The Sailing Navy List: All the Ships of the Royal Navy, Built, Purchased and Captured, 1688–1860. London. ISBN 0-85177-864-X.
- Jonathan Moore (2006). Archaeological and Historical Investigations of Three War of 1812 Wrecks at Kingston, Ontario : HMS St. Lawrence, HMS Kingston and HMS Burlington : Report for Province of Ontario Licence to Conduct Archaeological Exploration or Fieldwork 1999-096 at Sites BbGd-6, BbGc-45 and BbGc-46. Ottawa. ISBN 0-9781712-0-9.
- George F.G. Stanley, Richard A. Preston (1950). ‘A short history of Kingston as a military and naval centre’. Kingston, Ont.
- Media related to HMS Royal George (ship, 1809) at Wikimedia Commons
- Full of Confidene – The American Attack on Kingston Harbour – The War of 1812 Website Retrieved March 19, 2015
- The War of 1812 Magazine
Vessel Summary Table
| Name | Type / Armament | Built | Role & Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal George | 20‑gun sloop‑of‑war | 1809 | Provincial Marine & Royal Navy flagship; abandoned at Kingston harbour |
| Niagara | As above (renamed 1814) | — | Continued service as transport, sold 1837 |