Maritime History of the Great Lakes

George Henry Wyatt (1828-1883): Agent, Shipowner, Entrepreneur, and One-Man Naval Department

Publication
The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord (St. John's, NL), Autumn 2022, p. 287-314
:
Description
Media Type
Text
Item Type
Articles
Description
This is a first attempt to trace the life of George Henry Wyatt. He has previously been known only for his work procuring and administering the civilian steamers provided by Canada for arming and operation by the Royal Navy on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence frontier during the Fenian crisis of 1866- 1871. The research presented here shows that by the 1860s he had become a significant member of the Toronto business community. Among several enterprises, he was particularly active as a ship owner and agent for steamship and railway lines. This experience accounted for his selection by the government to organize the flotilla of steamers for the Royal Navy, and his success in that role. He was, however, not able to overcome the effects in Canada of the international economic downturn of the 1870s. He died in a new venture, to promote immigration to the newly opening Canadian west.
Date of Original
Autumn 2022
Personal Name(s)
Wyatt, George Henry
Language of Item
English
Copyright Statement
Protected by copyright: Uses other than research or private study require the permission of the rights holder(s). Responsibility for obtaining permissions and for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Copyright Holder
Canadian Nautical Research Society
Recommended Citation
The Northern Mariner/Le Marin du nord,
Contact
Canadian Nautical Research Society

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George Henry Wyatt (1828-1883): Agent, Shipowner, Entrepreneur, and One-Man Naval Department


This is a first attempt to trace the life of George Henry Wyatt. He has previously been known only for his work procuring and administering the civilian steamers provided by Canada for arming and operation by the Royal Navy on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence frontier during the Fenian crisis of 1866- 1871. The research presented here shows that by the 1860s he had become a significant member of the Toronto business community. Among several enterprises, he was particularly active as a ship owner and agent for steamship and railway lines. This experience accounted for his selection by the government to organize the flotilla of steamers for the Royal Navy, and his success in that role. He was, however, not able to overcome the effects in Canada of the international economic downturn of the 1870s. He died in a new venture, to promote immigration to the newly opening Canadian west.