Event Highlights for the City of London 1793 - 1843

1793

• March 2 - Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe and his party first viewed the main forks of the Thames River on their return journey to Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake) from Detroit.

1796

• A parcel of land comprising the lower (main) forks of the Thames River was purchased from the Chippewa Indians by the Provincial Government.

1800

• The District of London was proclaimed.

1808

• A 1,000 acre tract of land was surveyed by Mahlon Burwell at the Main Forks of the Thames, to be held under a licence of occupation by Joshua Applegarth for the purpose of cultivating hemp.

1819

• Wesleyan Methodism was brought to London by George Washington, circuit rider.

1825

• Laurence Laurason was appointed the first Deputy Postmaster at the London Postal Station, at the south-east corner of the present Sanatorium Road and Oxford Street.

1826

• Royal assent was given to a Provincial Bill designating the forks of the Thames as the administrative and legal centre of the London District.
• First house was built - Peter McGregor.
• The survey of the town plot of London was completed by Mahlon Burwell, District Surveyor.

1827

• The Court House of Western Upper Canada at Vittoria, Norfolk County, was destroyed and rebuilt at London.
• The Forks Post Office was opened.

1829

• Goodhue's Drug Store was made post office.
• Rev. Edward Jukes Boswell was first resident Anglican clergyman.

1830

• G. Goodhue's general store and real estate office opened.
• The first execution in London occurred with the hanging of Cornelius Alverson Burley for the shooting death, in Bayham Township, of Constable Timothy Conklin Pomeroy.

1831

• The initial issue of London's first newspaper, The London Sun, published and printed by Robert Heron and edited by Edward Allen Talbot - publication ceased December 1833.

1832

• Rev. Benjamin Cronyn and Dr. William Proudfoot settle in London.
• Drs. Moore and Donnelly fight Asiatic cholera epidemic.
• Labatt's Brewery established.
• St. Paul's Cathedral erected.

1833

• Hyman Tannery established.
• Methodist Church built W. Ridout north of Carling Street.
• The United Associate Synod Congregation (later to form First Presbyterian Church) was formally organized by Rev. William Proudfoot.

1834

• St. Laurence Church, the first Roman Catholic Church, was established at the corner of Maple and Richmond Streets.

1835

• London's first bank, the Bank of Upper Canada, opened under the management of Richard Richardson.

1836

• Hodkin's "Gazette and London Times" published.
• The first fair in London was held the first Tuesday of October.
• First member, Tory, Mahlon Burwell, elected to Parliament of Upper Canada, defeating Reformer, John Scatcherd.

1838

• E. Leonard & Sons locate in London.

1840

• Royal assent to Provincial Bill incorporating the Town of London and establishing a board of police therein - population 1,816.
  (Town to be governed by elected Board of Police).
• The Wesleyan Methodist Church, southeast corner of King and Talbot Streets, was formally dedicated.

1841

• The London Mechanics' Institute was re-established.
• The eastern boundary of the Town of London was extended south from Trafalgar Street to the South Branch of the Thames River.

1843

• Middlesex County Land Registration Office transferred from Dunwich Township to London, effective May 1.