The La Guayra Settlers

Photo by Alan L Brown - June 10, 2004

Plaque Location

The County of Wellington
The City of Guelph
In front of the park on the west side of Gordon Street just north of the Eramosa River bridge

Plaque Text

In 1827 some 135 destitute Scottish settlers arrived at Guelph. They formed part of a group sent in 1825 to La Guayra, Venezuela, by a British land company. Unsuited to the tropical climate and unable to work their poor land, they abandoned the colony and requested assistance from the British government. Transported to New York, they were directed to the Canada Company's settlement in Upper Canada. Forgoing the required charges, the superintendent, John Galt, placed them on Company land. This philanthropic action was criticized by his superiors and was one of the reasons leading to his recall to England in 1829.

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Settlements