Raised by Major Robert Rogers in 1755 as Rogers' Rangers during the Seven Year (French and Indian) War, the green-clad Rangers were famous in pre-Revolution North America for fighting in the Indian style, known today as guerrilla fighting, specializing in ambushes and moving silently through the woods. They performed many dangerous operations in the New England and New York region and were admired and feared by the French and their Indian allies. The Rangers' most famous feat was their midwinter attack on the Abenaki village of St Francis under the nose of the French at Montreal.

During the Revolution, Rogers remained loyal, resurrecting his Rangers as the Queen's Rangers. The Robert Rogers of the French and Indian War, however, had become a drunken, complaining Robert Rogers, who was replaced after less than a year in command. The best thing that happened to the Queen's Rangers was Major-Commandant John Graves Simcoe, who took over in 1777. Simcoe transformed a demoralized corps into a fighting machine. His success was rewarded when he was awarded the provincial rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1778 and the same rank in the British Army in 1781.

After the war, the unit was disbanded as the 1st American Regiment but was rebuilt in 1791 by Simcoe when he became Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada. The re-formed corps is most remembered for building two roads: Yonge Street from Toronto to Lake Simcoe, and the Dundas or Governor's Road from the Head of Lake Ontario (Dundas) to the Forks of the Thames (London). In 1802, they were disbanded again.

Among the officers of Simcoe's Queen's Rangers were two fathers of notable future Canadians that you will encounter in these web pages: Lieutenant Allan MacNab, father of Premier of The Canadas, Sir Allan Napier MacNab; and Ensign Thomas Merritt, father of the builder of the first Welland Canal, William Hamilton Merritt. Other famous people in the Queen's Rangers were Ensign William Jarvis, who became Civil Secretary for Upper Canada (Jarvis Street in Toronto is named after his son); Captain John Saunders, who became Chief Justice of New Brunswick; and Captain David Shank, who became commander of the Rangers in 1798 and reached the rank of Lieutenant-General in the British Army.

Another notable Queen's Ranger was Captain Aeneas Shaw. Born in Strathcairn, Scotland, about 1840, Shaw left Scotland for America in 1770 and joined the Army. During the Revolutionary War, he served in the Queen's Rangers under Simcoe. After the new Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe resurrected the Rangers, Shaw rejoined and arrived in time to command the detachment that cleared the area that would become York (Toronto). So perhaps he could be called the father of Toronto. He built the first fortifications on the site and his quarters in the fortifications became the commandant's office. As a Loyalist, he received land west of what became Bathurst Street and here he built the first frame residence in York. Just before the War of 1812, he reached the rank of Major-General. He is famous for another reason; his daughter Sophia was engaged to General Brock when he was killed at Queenston Heights. She never married. Shaw is commemorated by Shaw Street and by a plaque at the entrance to Trinity Bellwoods Park in Toronto.

In 1866, following the Fenian invasion, the corps was re-formed and has remained part of the Canadian Army ever since under different names. The current name is The 25th Armoured Regiment (Queen's York Rangers). For more information about the Queen's Rangers, visit the regiment's museum at Casa Loma in Toronto or the Canadian Army web site at www.army.dnd.ca/Queens_Own_York_Rangers. Incidentally, Rogers' Rangers are also the ancestors of the famous US Army Rangers and the Green Berets.