The Founding of London

In 1793 here on the river Thames, Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe selected a site for the capitol of Upper Canada. York, however, became the seat of government and the townsite of London lay undeveloped until its selection in 1826 as the judicial and administrative centre of the London District. A court-house and gaol (1829) and homes for the government officials were built, stores and hotels were opened, and by 1834 the community contained over 1100 inhabitants. A British garrison stationed at London in 1838 stimulated its growth. Two years later it was incorporated as a Town. With the development of a prosperous agricultural hinterland and the completion of the Great Western Railway London became a City in 1855.