Port Ryerse in Norfolk County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

William Pope

1811 - 1902

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 8, 2024

1. William Pope (1811-1902) Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

William Pope grew up in the lush countryside of southern England and studied painting at the Academy of Art, London. Reports of abundant wildlife drew the keen sportsman and naturalist to Upper Canada in 1834. After three extended visits he settled permanently with his family near Port Ryerse in 1859. Financially independent, Pope spent his days hunting, sketching and painting the local flora and fauna. His watercolours of birds are compared to those of John James Audubon. Along with his paintings, Pope's diaries and journals provide a detailed record of the wildlife once plentiful in this region. Most of his works are now held by the Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library.

William Pope grandit dans la campagne luxuriante du sud de l’Angleterre et étudie la peinture a l’Académie des Beaux-Arts à Londres. Chasseur et naturaliste enthousiaste, il est attire au Haut Canada en 1834 par des comptes rendus sur la richesse de la faune. Apres trois séjours prolonges, il s'installe avec sa famille pres de Port Ryerse en 1859. Matériellement autonome, il passe son temps à chasser, dessiner et peindre la flore et

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la faune locales. Ses aquarelles d'oiseaux sont comparées à celles de John James Audubon Avec ses peintures, le journal intime et les mémoires de Pope offrent un registre détaille de la faune autrefois abondante de cette region. La plupart de ses œuvres sont conservées à la Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library.

Erected by Ontario Heritage Foundation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Arts, Letters, Music • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1811.

Location. 42° 45.034′ N, 80° 16.27′ W. Marker is in Port Ryerse, Ontario, in Norfolk County. It is on Front Road 0.2 kilometers east of Chilian Road, on the right. The marker is at the entrance to the Norfolk Conservation Area, approx. 1.5 km west of the village of Port Ryerse. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Port Ryerse ON N0A 1N0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Southwest Ontario Area

and in Southwestern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally,

William Pope Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, October 2, 2023

2. William Pope Marker

it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in 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 6 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: To Honour the Pioneers (approx. 1.3 kilometers away); Lieut.-Col. Samuel Ryerse (approx. 1.3 kilometers away); Port Ryerse 1794-1994 (approx. 1.3 kilometers away); Christ Church, Anglican- 1844 (approx. 4.4 kilometers away); The District Capital (approx. 4.4 kilometers away); United Empire Loyalists and the Long Point Settlement (approx. 4.4 kilometers away); M. W. Bro. William Mercer Wilson / Très Vénérable Frère William Mercer Wilson (approx. 5.5 kilometers away); Normandale Blast Furnace/ Le Haut Fourneau de Normandale (approx. 5.6 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Ryerse.

Also see . . . William Pope: Canada’s Audubon.

In the spring of 1859 William and Martha returned to Canada, this time for
Photographed by Tim Boyd, October 2, 2023

3. William Pope Marker [français]
good. William purchased a 137 acre farm just west of Port Ryerse. Although he continued hunting, fishing and painting, William described himself as a farmer in the 1861 Census and 1871 Census.

(Submitted on October 12, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

Photographed by Tim Boyd, October 2, 2023

4. William Pope Marker

William Pope marker location sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, October 2, 2023

5. William Pope marker location sign

William Pope House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, October 2, 2023

6. William Pope House

Just east of the marker, on the north side of Front Road

Illustration of the Pileated Woodpecker, 1843, by William Pope image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Pope, 1843

7. Illustration of the Pileated Woodpecker, 1843, by William Pope

Source: Toronto Reference library

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 8, 2024

8. William Pope (1811-1902) Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 282 times since then and 41 times this year. Last updated on September 9, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. Photos: 1. submitted on July 14, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on October 12, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. 8. submitted on July 14, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.