Content
Skip to Main ContentAccessibility Help
Canada: The Story of Us·Video

The captain who blew up Fort York's munitions to keep them out of American hands

With Fort York at risk of falling to the Americans during an attack, a brave captain risks his life and blows up the fort's massive munitions stores.
CBC ·

The Battle of York

8 years ago
Duration 1:47
With Fort York at risk of falling to the Americans during an attack, a brave Canadian risks his life and blows up the fort's massive munitions stores.

April 27th, 1813. American soldiers breach the western wall of Fort York.

58-year-old captain Tito LeLièvre, a veteran of the French navy now fighting for the British, receives an order from British General Sheaffe to destroy the armoury to keep its contents out of American hands. LeLièvre, a lifelong soldier, a loving husband and father knows he must stop the American forces at any cost and volunteers to destroy it himself.

He creates a fuse with a trail of black powder and lights it with his gun. The explosion of the magazine kills 38 American soldiers instantly, including their commander, and injures hundreds more.

Forty of Lelièvre's fellow soldiers are caught in the blast as well, while the American casualties are five times greater than the British. 

Watch Canada: The Story of Us Sundays at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT) or online. 

Related Stories