The Republic of Canada was a short-lived provisional government proclaimed by William Lyon Mackenzie on December 13 1837. The government was established on Navy Island in the Niagara River in the latter days of the Upper Canada Rebellion after Mackenzie and 200 of his followers retreated from Toronto.
On December 29, Royal Navy Commander Andrew Drew and seven boatloads of Canadian militiamen crossed the Niagara River to Fort Schlosser . They captured the American supply steamer Caroline used by William Lyon Mackenzie and his rebels on Navy Island (see Caroline Affair). Drew's forces set the ship alight and sent it adrift towards Niagara Falls, resulting in the death of one American.
On January 13 1838 Mackenzie abandoned Navy Island under heavy fire from British troops. He fled for Buffalo and was incarcerated for 18 months for violating the Neutrality Act.
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