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David Wingfield joined the Royal Navy in 1806, at the age of fourteen. His service took him to the Great Lakes during the War of 1812. Captured, he was a POW in the United States for nine months. Following his release, Wingfield had some intriguing adventures on the Upper Great Lakes before returning to England. Once home, he used his handwritten notes, kept during his time in North America, as the basis for an account of his experiences there
This unique account of the history of Canada during the events of the War of 1812 and the stories of the people and places he was exposed to during this time is being made available in book form for the first time. This is the only account of the War of 1812 as seen through the eyes of a young seaman. Included is a Wingfield genealogical description that spans the modern world.
Whether you are a student of the War of 1812, naval history, or Ontario history, Four Years on the Great Lakes belongs on your reading shelf. Reading it will present you with a history you will never forget, and you will come away learning a lot more on the subject.
Wingfields life overlaps Austen and Dickens and though he is certainly not in their league, he is eloquent and shares the same dry English sense of humour. He starts out a bit self conscious but quickly finds a personable tone as much MASH as Melville.
Don Bamford was an avid sailor for many years and is the author of Freshwater Heritage. He lives in London, Ontario.
Paul Carroll, a "wharf rat" in his youth, brought forward the first Waterfront Development Plan for the long-term evolution of the Goderich shoreline and was involved with the sidescan sonar search for the Wexford. Paul's most recent book is Four Years on The Great Lakes. He lived near Goderich, Ontario.