New Edinburgh in Ottawa, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Thomas McKay 1792-1855

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 12, 2024

1. Thomas McKay 1792-1855 Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Born in Scotland, McKay emigrated to Canada about 1817 and worked as a mason in Montreal until 1826, when he began building the entrance locks of the Rideau Canal and the first bridge across the Ottawa River joining present-day Ottawa and Hull. In 1829, McKay acquired land where the Rideau River met the Ottawa. Here he laid out the village of New Edinburgh, and established an industrial complex that by 1848 included two sawmills, a grist-mill, woollen factory and distillery. In 1838, McKay built his residence, Rideau Hall, a two-storey stone structure used after 1865 to house Canada's governors-general. Active in municipal and provincial politics, McKay sat on Bytown's first council (1828), represented Russell in the Legislative Assembly (1834-41), and served on the Legislative Council (1841-55).

Né en Ecosse, McKay émigré au Canada vers 1817 et devient maître-maçon à Montréal. En 1826, il construit les écluses daces au canal Rideau et le premier pont enjambant l'Outaouais entre Hull et Ottawa. En 1829, il acquiert un terrain au confluent des rivières Rideau et Outaouais et fonde le village de New Edinburgh autour d'un complexe industriel qui comprend en 1848 deux scieries, un Moulin, une lainerie et une distillerie. En 1838, McKay se bâtit une superbe residence en pierre, Rideau Hall, qui sert depuis 1865 à loger les gouverneurs généraux du Canada. Il siege au premier conseil municipal de Bytown (1828), représente Russell à l'Assemblée législative (1834-1841) et accede au Conseil législatif (1841-1855).

Erected by Ontario

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Heritage Foundation/Fondation du patrimoine ontarien.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Immigration • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1817.

Location. 45° 26.564′ N, 75° 41.616′ W. Marker is in Ottawa, Ontario. It is in New Edinburgh. It is at the intersection of Sussex Drive (County Highway 93) and John Street, on the right when traveling north on Sussex Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 64 John Street, Ottawa ON K1M 1M3, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: New Edinburgh's First School/Première école de New Edinburgh

Thomas McKay 1792-1855 Marker (French) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Caroline Record, November 29, 2025

2. Thomas McKay 1792-1855 Marker (French)

(within shouting distance of this marker); Fraser Schoolhouse/Ecole Fraser (within shouting distance of this marker); Ten Years of Democracy in South Africa (within shouting distance of this marker); Canada's Discovery Route/La voie de la découverte du Canada (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Reflection/Réflexion (about 120 meters away); CANLOAN Memorial (about 120 meters away); Iznik Tiles/Céramique d'Iznik (about 150 meters away); The International Peace Garden/Le Jardin International de la Paix (about 150 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ottawa.

Also see . . . Thomas McKay (Dictionary of Canadian Biography). (Submitted on October 12, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 12, 2024

3. Thomas McKay 1792-1855 Marker

French Embassy grounds across Sussex Drive

Credits. This page was last revised on December 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 155 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 12, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 2. submitted on December 2, 2025, by Caroline Record of Montréal, Québec. 3. submitted on October 12, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.