Key to Picture.

The Battle of York, a relatively small engagement of the War of 1812, was a major event in the history of Toronto.

This picture shows the American fleet firing its guns on the shore and harbour entry, while landing its troops west of the settlement (no. 134). The enemy army of 1700 soldiers pushed the outnumbered defenders - 300 British regulars, 300 York militiamen and about 200 aboriginal warriors altogether - eastwards to Fort York (no. 20). The six-hour battle ended when the British blew up the fort's gunpowder magazine (20h), burned the Sir Isaac Brock (no. 77) and retreated eastward to Kingston.

Owen Staples painted this detailed reconstruction 100 years after the battle. It probably was commissioned by John Ross Robertson to commemorate the centenary in 1913.