Escape of the Royal George 1812

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted December, 2010

Plaque Location

The County of Lennox & Addington
The Town of Greater Napanee
At a pull-off on the south side of Highway 33 just west of Road 21

Coordinates: N 44 08.430 W 76 51.109

Plaque Text

Opposite here is the gap between Amherst Island and the eastern tip of Prince Edward County. On November 9, 1812, the British Corvette "Royal George" (22 guns), commanded by Commodore Hugh Earl(e), was intercepted off False Duck Islands by an American fleet, comprising seven ships under Commodore Isaac Chauncey. Pursued by the enemy, "Royal George" escaped through this gap into the Bay of Quinte's North Channel. The chase resumed in light winds the following day when she arrived safely in Kingston harbour. Chauncey, intent on capturing the largest British warship then on Lake Ontario, attacked her in the harbour, but after exchanging fire with "Royal George" and shore batteries, was forced to withdraw.

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War of 1812

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Posted September 28, 2010
What the plaque doesn't mention (perhaps due to space limitations) is that a storm was moving in. This played a part in Commodore Chauncey's decision to withdraw to safety and abandon his bid to capture the corvette. There is a model of the Royal George at Fort Henry in Kingston, where this is explained.

Posted October 12, 2008
why did she escape.

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