Robert Nichol Plaque Official

It's official!

The news was broadcast on CD 98.9 FM, Simcoe this morning. Approval has come through for an Ontario provincial plaque in memory of Robert Nichol.

My partner Bob Blakeley and I are celebrating, even though we've known this was coming for weeks. (We actually heard just before New Year.) Appropriately this is Heritage Week, and on Monday Bob and I participated in North Erie Shore Historical Society's 28th annual Heritage Day in Selkirk.

Despite the cold, the weather was pretty good and the crowds seemed larger than ever. Which means probably 1000 people turned out.

As usual at events like this, Bob and I were in our War of 1812 outfits and, along with selling books, told everyone who seemed interested about Robert Nichol.

You can learn more about him at www.heronwoodent.ca -- just click on the Col. Robert Nichol button on the left side of the home page. For now, what's important is that he was a prosperous merchant-miller who took on the duties of Quartermaster-General of Militia during the War of 1812. Although he was at first reluctant, his good friend Isaac Brock insisted that no one else could do the job as well. Nichol had all kinds of business connections across the province, a proven record for negotiating delicate international business, and the kind of organized mind and determined attitude that would not let him give up anything he decided to do. Not only did he fulfill his duties as Quartermaster-General, supplying the militia with food, clothing, shelter and equipment, he also participated in a number of battles. At Fort George, he was nearly killed when his horse was shot from under him.

Nichol paid dearly for his war-time service. His extensive estate was destroyed by American invaders in May 1814 and compensation was so slow in coming that he had to struggle for many years. Eventually he moved back to the Niagara area, settling in Stamford (now part of Niagara Falls) and took on numerous duties as a judge, commissioner and advisor, all the while serving as Member of the Legislative Assembly for Norfolk County. Always outspoken, he emerged as leader of the opposition by 1817, at a time when criticizing the government was often viewed as treason. Although Nichol's war record made it impossible to question his loyalty, he did have many enemies.

Which is why there was suspicion of foul play when his horse and wagon plunged into the Niagara gorge in early May 1824. Although Nichol was found with his neck-cloth stuffed in his mouth, a coroner's jury under William Lyon Mackenzie ruled the death accidental and Nichol was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hamilton family cemetery at Queenston.

Within a relatively short time, he was almost completely forgotten, even though he had been one of the most important figures in Upper Canadian politics and business for more than a dozen years.

In the 1920s, eminent War of 1812 historian E.A. Cruikshank wrote a series of scholarly articles on Nichol and his life, and in one of them wondered why he had been so completely forgotten. Writing in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography more than half a century later, historian Robert L. Fraser wondered the same thing.

Although there had been some effort in the Niagara area to mark his grave after Cruikshank's articles appeared, nothing materialized. Nichol remained a footnote character, mentioned in passing in many books on the War of 1812, but never really familiar to most readers of Canadian history.

Bob and I have been separately fascinated by Nichol's story for a long time and decided to join forces to promote his story. One of the results was "Conversations with Colonel Robert Nichol" a presentation we developed for historical societies and other groups. Our long term plan is write a full-length biography on Nichol, and we've just brought out a small booklet on his life, Robert Nichol: Forgotten Hero.

In the meantime, Harry B. Barrett, a well known Port Dover historian decided the time had come to get serious about getting a plaque in his memory. Harry has been the driving force behind a number of historic plaques during his long and productive life and knew just exactly how to go about it.

Bob and I heard about his plans in Port Dover late this summer and provided the historical background for the grant application. Ian Bell, curator at the Port Dover Harbour Museum took care of the application -- and the result is that the plaque will be unveiled in Dover on September 24, 2009.

FINALLY, more than 185 years after his death, Robert Nichol is getting some of the recognition he so richly deserves.

Before the plaque goes up some fund-raising will have to be done, and Bob and I plan to be involved. As plans are developed, I'll post them here, as well as on my website.

So please stay tuned!