Plaque du lieutenant-colonel John By

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JOHN BY, R.E.

Born in London, England, about 1779, By graduated from the
Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, in 1799. He was attached
to the Royal Engineers in Canada (1802-1811) and later served
in the Peninsular War. By was sent to Canada in 1826 to su-
perintend the construction of an Ottawa River-Lake Ontario
waterway from Bytown (Ottawa) to Kingston. The 123-mile
long Rideau Canal, built as a military route and incorporating
47 locks, 16 lakes, two rivers, and a 350-foot long, 60-foot
high dam here at Jones Falls, was completed in 1832. On By's
return to England charges, including the misappropriation of
funds, were laid. Although entirely refuted, they essentially
ended his career and he retired to his Sussex estate where he
died in 1836.

Erected by the Ontario Heritage Foundation
Ministry of Culture and Recreation