History
London and Middlesex County's rich history has been created by the people who settled our region, from the first Native Indian peoples to the early European settlers and today's newcomers.
In 1793, Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe selected the growing city at the Forks of the Thames as Ontario's future capital city. Toronto was eventually designated as the capital of Ontario but on January 30, 1826 the City of London was founded as the official District Town for the region.
Throughout the early 1800s, settlers from the United States and Europe slowly populated the Forks of the Thames. Buildings began to grow around London's historic courthouse and John Harris, Treasurer of the District, erected Eldon House in 1834, the city's first elegant mansion. Farming was the major way of life.
In 1836, Lieutenant-Governor Sir Francis Bond Head, divided London from Middlesex County. When the 1837 rebellion broke out, the British government stationed military troops here. The city's population grew as the new troops and their families settled in.
Trade and industry grew with the arrival of the railroad in 1853. The railway linked London to major shipping centers, providing access to wider markets and variety of goods.
London's population doubled between 1850 and 1855. The city experienced a short depression in the late 1850s but recovered when oil was discovered in east London. Wealth generated in industry, wholesaling and oil refining helped the city and region grow.
Prosperity in the 1920s saw the arrival of the motor car and new head offices for major financial institutions London Life and Canada Trust. Electricity revolutionized the market for appliance and light bulb manufacturing. One of London's great moments in history came on October 31, 1920 when Frederick Banting discovered insulin based on research conducted here.
Growth continued with a large wave of immigrants after World War I. The region experienced the greatest growth ever after World War II. By 1976, London had grown to a quarter of a million people.
Today, London is a modern, urban centre surrounded by the rural landscapes of Middlesex County, all within a day's drive of more than 150 million people.
