Born in England, Bayfield joined the Royal Navy at the age of eleven and served in many parts of the world. While stationed at Kingston, Upper Canada in 1817, he was put in charge of the Great Lakes survey. Over the next eight years, he charted the coastal waters of lakes Erie, Huron and Superior. For much of this period Penetanguishene was his base of operations. Later, Bayfield surveyed the shorelines of the lower St Lawrence River, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. His charts provided the first reliable guides for thousands of ships navigating Canadian inland waters in the 19th century. Nautical surveyors still refer to them today.

Location

In Bayfield Park, Penetanguishene

Themes

• People
• Transportation systems and communications
• War and conflict