Skip to main content
Ingenium Logo

You are leaving IngeniumCanada.org

✖


This link leads to an external website that Ingenium does not control. Please read the third-party’s privacy policies before entering personal information or conducting a transaction on their site.

Have questions? Review our Privacy Statement

Vous quittez IngeniumCanada.org

✖


Ce lien mène à un site Web externe qu'Ingenium ne contrôle pas. Veuillez lire les politiques de confidentialité des tiers avant de partager des renseignements personnels ou d'effectuer une transaction sur leur site.

Questions? Consultez notre Énoncé de confidentialité

Ingenium The Channel

Langue

  • Français
Search Toggle

Menu des liens rapides

  • Ingenium Locations
  • Shop
  • Donate
  • Join
Menu

Main Navigation

  • Browse
    • Categories
    • Media Types
    • Boards
    • Featured Stories
  • About
    • About The Channel
    • Content Partners

The Honorable William Hamilton Merritt

This article was originally written and submitted as part of a Canada 150 Project, the Innovation Storybook, to crowdsource stories of Canadian innovation with partners across Canada. The content has since been migrated to Ingenium’s Channel, a digital hub featuring curated content related to science, technology and innovation.

Share
Jun 2, 2017
Categories
Business & Economics
Categories
Engineering & Technology
Media
Article
Profile picture for user St. Catharines Museum
By: St. Catharines Museum
The William Hamilton Merritt Monument

(1793-1862)

William Hamilton Merritt was born on July 3 1793 in Bedford, Westchester County, New York.  His father was Thomas Merritt V, U.E.L., son of Thomas Merritt IV, U.E.L., who landed in Canada in 1782.  His mother was Mary Hamilton (1761-1843).  William Hamilton Merritt had seven siblings: Thomas VI (died in infancy); Amy (b. 1782, died in infancy); Phoebe (b.1784, died in infancy); Caroline Matilda (1791-1824); Anna Maria (1797-1850); and Susan (1801-1866).

Merritt’s father Thomas V received land at Twelve Mile Creek, modern day St. Catharines, and moved there in 1796.  William Hamilton Merritt was educated by various teachers over his childhood, such as by Richard Cockrel, who taught him surveying and mathematics, Reverend John Burns, who taught classical education and by Alexander McLeod on a visit to Bermuda.

Merritt started out as a farmer in St. Catharines and also owned a general store. On the 28th of June in 1812 he was called to fight in the War of 1812 as a lieutenant with the Niagara Light Dragoons. He fought in Sandwich, Queenston Heights in addition to many other battles. On March 11th, 1813 he was appointed captain and fought at Lundy’s Lane in July of 1814 where he was captured. He remained a prisoner in Cheshire, Massachusetts until the end of the war.

Merritt is best known for his support and promotion of the Welland Canal linking Lake Ontario and Erie. In 1818 he organized a meeting to call for the creation of a canal between 12 Mile Creek and Chippawa Creek. The Upper Canada assembly approved the plan by charting the Welland Canal Company in January of 1824 after years of opposition.  Merritt became the financial agent of the company, which required him that led to him travelling extensively to fundraise. Merritt served in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada from 1832 to 1841 for Haldimand County.  After the unification of Upper and Lower Canadas, he served in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for Lincoln County from 1841 to 1860.

Merritt was married to Catherine Rodman Prendergast with whom he had 6 children: Thomas Prendergast (1816-1819); Infant daughter (d.1818); Jedediah Prendergast (1820-1900); William Hamilton Merritt Jr. (2nd) (1822-1860); Thomas Rodman (1824-1906); Catharine Merritt (1829-1830).

On July 5th, 1862 Merritt passed away aboard a ship near Cornwall.

“W.H. Merritt Day” was held on November 29th, 1974. On this day there was a ceremony that marked the 150th anniversary of sod turning for the first Welland Canal. The ceremony included a memorial service, wreath laying at the statue and an open house at the St. Catharines Museum. The opened house featured an unveiling of the Merritt Portrait, the issuance of a Merritt stamp, and the unveiling of the Merritt plaque. There was also a performance of the play “Merritt” which was performed in Thistle Theatre at Brock University.

The William Hamilton Merritt Monument / Statue is located in a parkette at the corner of St. Paul Street West and McGuire Streets in downtown St. Catharines.

Tags
Innovation Storybook
Author(s)
Profile picture for user St. Catharines Museum
St. Catharines Museum
Follow

The St. Catharines Museum & Welland Canals Centre is located at Lock 3 of the Welland Canal and includes the Welland Canal Viewing Platform, the St. Catharines Museum Exhibition Galleries, Merritt's Mercantile Gift Shop and several room rental spaces.

http://www.stcatharinesmuseum.ca

More Stories by

Profile picture for user St. Catharines Museum
St. Catharines Museum
Dr. Lucius Ollie

Dr. Lucius Oille: The Father of St. Catharines' Waterworks

Related Stories

The wreckage of the Hoffar H-2 flying boat after its crash on the roof of the house of an ear, eye and nose doctor, Vancouver, British Columbia. Anon., “From Hantsport to Vancouver.” Canadian Courier, 28 September 1918, 12.

A tale of air, water, and fire: A peek at the aeronautical activities of Hoffar Motor Boat Company of Vancouver, British Columbia, 1915-27, part 1

Wilfrid Thomas Reid. Anon., “Specification and description of the Reid Rambler.” Canadian Air Review, November 1928, 30.

It was born a rambling plane, trying to make a living and doing the best it could: The fascinating story of the Reid / Curtiss-Reid Rambler, Canada’s first light / private plane, part 2

André-Georges Lafitte’s arrival in Dijon, France, June 1990. A.-G. Lafitte, “Un membre de l’I.F.N. traverse l’Atlantique Nord en U.L.M.” Navigation, October 1991, 559.

The Pélican brief: The fascinating history of one of the founding pillars of the Québec ultralight aircraft industry, Ultravia Aéro Incorporée, Part 2

A typical Ultravia Pélican ultralight aircraft on floats. The absence of a registration is worth noting. Anon., “Amateurs – ULM ou avions?” Aviation magazine international, 1 August 1983, 37.

The Pélican brief: The fascinating history of one of the founding pillars of the Québec ultralight aircraft industry, Ultravia Aéro Incorporée, Part 1

A map of the cranberry bog of Les Producteurs de Québec Limitée of Lemieux, Québec. Luc Bureau, “Un exemple d’adaptation de l’agriculture à des conditions écologiques en apparence hostiles: L’Atocatière de Lemieux,” Cahiers de géographie du Québec, December 1970, 389.

“A sea serpent without affidavit, is like roast turkey without cranberry sauce;” Or, how the Larocque family created the first cranberry bog in Québec, part 3

Some of the buildings on the cranberry bog operated by Les Producteurs de Québec Limitée of Lemieux, Québec. Pierre-Arthur Dorion. “La plus importante plantation d’atocas au pays.” Le Bulletin des agriculteurs, July 1955, 11.

“A sea serpent without affidavit, is like roast turkey without cranberry sauce;” Or, how the Larocque family created the first cranberry bog in Québec, part 2

Charles Larocque, manager of Les Producteurs de Québec Limitée of Lemieux, Québec, showing how to pick up cranberries, on the left, as well as fallen fruits floating in water. Arthur Prévost, « À Lemieux, au Québec, prospère la culture des ‘juteux atacas.’ » Photo-Journal, 23 July 1953, 33.

“A sea serpent without affidavit, is like roast turkey without cranberry sauce;” Or, how the Larocque family created the first cranberry bog in Québec, part 1

A typical advertisement of the Berlin Brewery of Berlin, Ontario. Anon., “Lion Brewery.” The Canadian Courier, 6 June 1908, 17.

From a Lion Brewery in Waterloo to a Ranger Brewing in Kitchener, and more: A brief look at the history of a somewhat forgotten Ontario brewery

A smiling Mrs. Élie Fortin of Montmagny, Québec, accepting the bicycle won by her daughter, Michèle Fortin, in a contest organised by Dulac Potato Chips Incorporated of Sainte-Marie, Québec. Anon., “–.” Le Peuple, 10 May 1963, 10.

A great lady who never let go of the potato: Anne Marie Harmonia Hallé and the Dulac potato chips saga

The Junkers Ju 52 bushplane registered as CF-ARM of Canadian Airways Limited of Montréal, Québec, Manuan Lake, Québec, August or September 1940. CASM, 13469.

Old bushplanes never die, they just fade away: A few lines, all right, many lines on the remarkable career of a Junkers Ju 52 “flying box car” named CF-ARM, part 3

The Junkers Ju 52 bushplane registered as CF-ARM of Canadian Airways Limited of Montréal, Québec. Anon., “Pionnier des transports lourds dans le nord du Canada, le ‘Cargo volant’ a fini sa carrière.” Photo-Journal, 29 January 1948, 2.

Old bushplanes never die, they just fade away: A few lines, all right, many lines on the remarkable career of a Junkers Ju 52 “flying box car” named CF-ARM, part 1

A typical wild and free bullfrog. John J. Brice, editor, A Manual of Fish-Culture: Based on the Methods of the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries, with Chapters on the Cultivation of Oysters and Frogs (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1897), 258.

“Is a frog game or fish? There is the rub.” A brief look at the history of ranaculture in Canada and Québec, Part 4

Footer

About The Channel

The Channel

Contact Us

Ingenium
P.O. Box 9724, Station T
Ottawa ON K1G 5A3
Canada

613-991-3044
1-866-442-4416
contact@IngeniumCanada.org
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Channel

    • Channel Home
    • About the Channel
    • Content Partners
  • Visit

    • Online Resources for Science at Home
    • Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
    • Canada Aviation and Space Museum
    • Canada Science and Technology Museum
    • Ingenium Centre
  • Ingenium

    • Ingenium Home
    • About Ingenium
    • The Foundation
  • For Media

    • Newsroom
    • Awards

Connect with us

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest Ingenium news straight to your inbox!

Sign Up

Legal Bits

Ingenium Privacy Statement

© 2023 Ingenium

Symbol of the Government of Canada
  • Browse
    • Categories
    • Media Types
    • Boards
    • Featured Stories
  • About
    • About The Channel
    • Content Partners