Chippawa near Niagara Falls in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Destruction of The Caroline, 1837

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, April 21, 2013

1. The Destruction of The Caroline, 1837 Marker

Inscription. On the night of December 29-30, 1837, some 60 volunteers acting on the orders of Col. Allen Napier MacNab, and commanded by Capt. Andrew Drew, R.N., set out from Chippawa in small boats to capture the American steamer "Caroline". That vessel, which had been supplying William Lyon Mackenzie's rebel forces on Navy Island, was moored at Fort Schlosser, N.Y. There she was boarded by Drew's men, her crew killed or driven ashore, and after an unsuccessful attempt to start the engines, her captors set the ship afire and left her to sink in the Niagara River. This action almost precipitated war between Britain and the United States.

Erected by Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Wars, Non-US • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical date for this entry is December 29, 1837.

Location. 43° 3.343′ N, 79° 1.583′ W. Marker is near Niagara Falls, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It is in Chippawa. It is at the intersection of Niagara Parkway and Service Road 30, on the right when traveling north on Niagara Parkway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8351 Service Road 30, Niagara Falls ON L2G 0N7, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe

and in Niagara Canada.

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

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8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Niagara River Remedial Action Plan (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Niagara River Remedial Action Plan (within shouting distance of this marker); Slater's Dock (within shouting distance of this marker); Chippawa Battlefield Panel 6 (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Chippawa Battlefield Panel 4 (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Chippawa Battlefield Panel 5 (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Chippawa Battlefield Panel 3 (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Chippawa Battlefield Panel 1 (approx. 0.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Niagara Falls.

Also see . . . Wikipedia entry for the Caroline affair. “This action outraged the United States. In retaliation, a group of American and Canadian raiders attacked a British ship and destroyed it. There were several other attacks in 1838 between the British and Americans. The diplomatic crisis was defused by the negotiations that led to the Webster-Ashburton Treaty in 1842, where both the Americans and British admitted to wrongdoing.

“In the aftermath, the incident led to the legal principle of the Caroline test. The principle states that the necessity for self-defense must be ‘instant, overwhelming, and leaving no choice of means, and no moment for deliberation’ ... the Caroline Test remains accepted as part of international

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, April 21, 2013

2. The Destruction of The Caroline, 1837 Marker

law today.” (Submitted on December 29, 2018.)

The Destruction of The Caroline, 1837 - Marker in context image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin Westell, July 3, 2025

3. The Destruction of The Caroline, 1837 - Marker in context

Photo faces north. Niagara River Parkway runs away on the left edge of photo. This photo contains two markers; THIS "Caroline" marker is the one on the left, near the end of the little picnic parking loop.

<i>Destruction of the American Steamboat "Caroline"</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Detroit Publishing Company, circa 1900

4. Destruction of the American Steamboat "Caroline"

Image provided courtesy of the US Library of Congress.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 21, 2013, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 2,221 times since then and 70 times this year. Last updated on August 29, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 21, 2013, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 3. submitted on July 6, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. 4. submitted on April 23, 2013. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.