 The all–brick fort was built from 1814–1816 during the War of 1812, to replace nearby Fort George.It was built on a foundation of brick and stone salvaged from rubble left after retreating United States forces burned the nearby town of Niagara (as Niagara-on-the-Lake was known then) in December, 1813.It would help in the defence of Upper Canada the following year, as part of a regional network that included Fort George, Navy Hall, and Butler's Barracks.