Rush-Bagot Agreement
The Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, United States-Canada border
What happened
Acting US Secretary of State Richard Rush and the British minister Sir Charles Bagot. After the War of 1812, both sides still had warships on the Great Lakes. Rush and Bagot exchanged letters agreeing to strict limits: one small armed ship each on Lake Ontario and Lake Champlain, and two on the upper Great Lakes. Most of the warships were then sold or abandoned.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It disarmed the lakes between the United States and British North America. It laid the foundation for the world's longest demilitarised border, between the United States and Canada.
What came next
The Treaty of Washington in 1871 completed the disarmament. The agreement has been updated several times and is still technically in force.
Did you know?
The 'Stone Frigate' at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario, was built in 1820 to store parts of the British fleet taken apart under the agreement.
Timeline
- 27-28 April 1817Rush and Bagot exchange notes.
- 16 April 1818The US Senate ratifies the agreement.
- 1820The Stone Frigate is built in Kingston to store dismantled ships.
- 1871The Treaty of Washington completes disarmament.