James Keating c.1786 - 1849

Photo by Alan L Brown - July 17, 2004

Plaque Location

The County of Simcoe
The Town of Penetanguishene
In the paid admission area of Discovery Harbour, on the left side at the far end of the pathway behind a split rail fence

Plaque Text

A sergeant in the Royal Artillery, Irish-born James Keating served with distinction during the War of 1812. His skillful handling of a British field gun forced the Americans to surrender Fort Shelby on the upper Mississippi in July 1814. Two months later, his well-aimed firing of the same artillery piece routed advancing troops down-river at Rock Island Rapids. For his actions, Keating was promoted lieutenant. At the war's end, he was appointed fort adjutant at St. Joseph's Island, a position he continued to hold when the garrison was moved here in 1828. A model soldier and citizen, Keating was a prominent figure in community life at Penetanguishene.