- A leader of the Odawa Nation and key figure in Pontiac’s Rebellion (1763–1766).
- Opposed British rule after the French and Indian War.
- His forces attacked Fort Detroit, and his influence extended to Indigenous resistance in the Amherstburg region.
Historic Figures
Amherstburg has a rich history tied to several notable figures who played significant roles in its military, social, and cultural development. Here are some key historic figures associated with the town:
Richard Pierpoint (c. 1744-1838)
- A formerly enslaved man who gained freedom by fighting for the British in the American Revolution.
- Helped establish the Coloured Corps, an all-Black unit that fought at Fort Malden during the War of 1812.
- Advocated for land grants for Black Loyalists in Upper Canada.
Colonel William Caldwell (c. 1750-1822)
- A British Loyalist and military officer during the American Revolution and the War of 1812.
- Settled in Amherstburg and became a key landowner and community leader.
- Helped establish a settlement for Loyalists and Indigenous allies in the area.
- A Shawnee leader who allied with the British during the War of 1812.
- Used Amherstburg and Fort Malden as a strategic base.
- Played a crucial role in uniting Indigenous nations against American expansion but was killed in the Battle of the Thames.
General Isaac Brock (1769-1812)
- A British military leader during the War of 1812.
- Strategized the defense of Upper Canada, including Fort Malden in Amherstburg.
- Led British and Indigenous forces in the capture of Detroit but was later killed at the Battle of Queenston Heights.
- A formerly enslaved man who escaped to Canada via the Underground Railroad.
- While not based in Amherstburg, he played a key role in the broader abolitionist movement that passed through the town.
- His story helped inspire Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
- A controversial political and military figure in Upper Canada.
- Played a key role in defending Amherstburg during the Patriot War (1837–1838).
- As a judge, he ordered the execution of captured rebels without trial, earning both support and criticism.
- A skilled early Canadian artist, known for her detailed watercolors of Amherstburg and surrounding areas.
- She is one of the earliest documented female artists in Ontario.
Mary Ann Shadd Cary (1823-1893)
- A prominent abolitionist, educator, and the first Black female newspaper publisher in North America.
- Lived in Windsor but had strong connections to Amherstburg’s Black community.
- Advocated for education and civil rights for Black refugees in Canada.