In 1818 Adam Scott settles on the west shore of the Otonabee River at the foot of King Street. Then the following year signs an agreement to build grist and sawmill on site of future town of Peterborough. Future town of Peterborough is established as "Scott's Plains". Charles Rubidge and family arrive in 1820 as second settlers in Otonabee Township. Richard Birdsall surveys the area in 1823 for a town site. Market Block between George and Water and Charlotte and Simcoe Streets are established.

The British parliament voted in 1825, 30,000 pounds to finance a large and experimental emigration plan to transport poor Irish families to Upper Canada where 2000 Irish immigrants transported from Cork to Peterborough by Peter Robinson. "Scott's Plains" renamed Peterborough in honor of Peter Robinson. Sir Peregrine Maitland, becomes Governor of Upper Canada town in 1826, 1832 - Botanist and author, Catharine Parr Traill and family, settle in area. Samuel Dickson begins logging operations in 1840 north of Peterborough and builds. Robert Nicholls opens first bank in 1843 Bank of Montreal branch. Typhus outbreak kills many in 1847, including local doctor John Hutchison and Thomas A. Stewart. Peterborough incorporates in 1850 as a town and the population is 2,191. 1857 - Decimal or 'dollar' currency adopted in Peterborough, replacing English pound. 1859 - John Stephenson designs molded strip canoe, later known as the "Peterborough Canoe".

1860 - Future painter and sculptor, Katharine E. Wallis is born in Peterborough. 1869 - First Gas Works is established in Peterborough - used for lighting and then a year later hires its first 'Lamp Lighter' to light downtown gas streetlights. 1873 - Ontario Canoe Company establishes in Peterborough. First telephones arrive to Peterborough in 1879. Ontario Canoe Company is formed under James Z. Rogers. The First train of Grand Junction Railway arrives in Peterborough in 1880. Peterborough becomes first town in Canada to have electric (arc) lights along its streets in 1884. 1891 - Edison Electric builds a major plant in Peterborough later becomes Canadian General Electric (CGE). 1892 - Ontario Canoe Company becomes Peterborough Canoe Company. 1896 - Construction begins on Lift Lock, designed by R.B. Rogers.

1901 - Winston S. Churchill, future Prime Minister of Britain, visits Peterborough to make speech about Boer War. 1902 - American Cereal Company establishes a plant on the shore of the Otonabee River, later is renamed Quaker Oats Company. 1904 - World's highest hydraulic Lift Lock is completed for Trent Canal. On July 1st, 1905 Peterborough officially proclaimed a City. 1907 - Rev. Edwin Pearson becomes minister at George Street Methodist Church, his son, future Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, begins attending Central Public School. 1913 - Peterborough's Frank O'Connor opens Laura Secord Chocolate Company in Toronto, after borrowing $500 from Louis Yeotes. 1920 - Peterborough's population is 19,890. 1923 - Baseball Hall-of-Famer, Tris Speaker and his "All Stars" play exhibition game in Peterborough. 1934 - John Smith's famous attempt to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a 16 foot Peterborough Canoe ("Pride of Peterborough") begins and ends in his death in the Gulf of St Lawrence.

1956 - Former Peterborough resident, Lester Pearson wins Nobel Peace Prize (Suez Crisis). 1961 - Peter Demos, a Peterborough native, receives PhD in nuclear physics at MIT and is appointed advisor on nuclear science to US President John F. Kennedy. 1964 - Trent University is opened. 1971 - Peterborough hosts North American Figure Skating Championships. Karen Magnussen wins ladies singles crown over Janet Lynn of the United States. Toller Cranston wins men's title. 1987 - Festival of Lights is launched. 2000 - Peterborough celebrates 150th anniversary and First Mayor's Levy ever held in Peterborough occurs on New Years Day.

PETER ROBINSON IRISH EMIGRATION TO CANADA (1823, 1825)

Economic conditions in Ireland played a part in forming the plan. Ireland in the 1820's was an economic "basket case", population in Ireland was increasing dramatically. Parliament was also intent on increasing the number of settlers available to defend the border of British North America (Canada) from the United States.

Religious factors also motivated Irish people to venture into the unknown and settle in the "New World". Irish penal laws severely restricted the ability of Irish Roman Catholics to practice their faith, own land or even vote in elections. Peter Robinson (only known image of Robinson, left), the son of Loyalists and elder brother of Upper Canada's powerful Attorney General, John Beverley Robinson, was asked to manage this emigration scheme in 1822. At the time he was a politician living in York. He sailed for Britain and began forming a workable emigration plan and recruitment program and some 50,000 people applied to start new lives in a strange and distant land.

THE FIRST WAVE OF SETTLERS - BATHURST DISTRICT
In 1823 the first wave of Irish settlers (568 people) began the long and dangerous journey to Upper Canada with their final destination in eastern Ontario (Lanark, Perth, Ramsay township area). The ships landed at Quebec City and the passengers boarded steamships, then barges, then wagons for the final leg. Settlers were given free provisions, tools and farm land!

THE SECOND WAVE - PETERBOROUGH!
The second wave of emigration was launched in 1825. This time over 1800 people made a journey similar to the first one. This time however, the final destination was Peterborough, in the Newcastle District (now south central Ontario). Nine ships carried the passengers on this trip. Before Robinson started the voyage he traveled to the Peterborough area himself to explore conditions, establish a safe travel route and inspect land.
Peterborough at this time was a remote and rugged place with a small population. The area was transformed with the sudden influx of 2000 men, women and children in 1825! As in 1823, thousands applied for the voyage leaving from Cork. Prospective settlers had to secure "letters of recommendation" outlining their qualities and usefulness as settlers. Those selected received "embarkation certificates" allowing them to board a particular ship.

Again, the ships arrived at Quebec (June 1825). After a rough land trip to Rice Lake, the settlers made the final leg of their journey to Peterborough by barge up the Otonabee River. At Peterborough, families were issued free provisions, tools, livestock and farm land. Families settled throughout Peterborough County and thousands of their descendants remain in the area even to this day. Life was hard for these people. Several died in the years immediately following the emigration. Some families were given poor farm land and had to relocate and of course, the unforgiving Canadian winters were a challenge. Although life was difficult, these new Canadians helped to build a great city - just as new Canadians from India, eastern Europe, Italy and Asia have in recent years!