Fort Edgecomb
Encyclopedia
Fort Edgecomb, built in 1808-1809, is a two-story octagonal wooden blockhouse
and restored fortifications located on Davis Island in the town of Edgecomb, Lincoln County
, Maine
, United States
. It is also known as Fort Edgecomb State Historic Site. On October 1, 1969, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
and on December 22, 1991, its boundaries were increased to create an historic district
.
's Embargo
was not popular with American merchants, and it is said that the only time Fort Edgecomb's cannon
were fired was in salute at James Madison
's inauguration (or, less tactfully, to celebrate his lifting of the Embargo).
During the War of 1812
, this post saw considerable activity holding British prisoners of war, many of them brought to Wiscasset harbor by American privateersmen. In 1814, Fort Edgecomb became an important base in defending against a possible British attack on mid-coast Maine. It remained manned until 1818, and was reactivated during the Civil War.
The Friends of Fort Edgecomb celebrated the bicentennial of the Fort June 13, 2009, on the grounds of the fort.
Blockhouse
In military science, a blockhouse is a small, isolated fort in the form of a single building. It serves as a defensive strong point against any enemy that does not possess siege equipment or, in modern times, artillery...
and restored fortifications located on Davis Island in the town of Edgecomb, Lincoln County
Lincoln County, Maine
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of 2010, the population was 34,457. Its county seat is Wiscasset. It was founded in 1760 and named after the English city Lincoln. At its founding, it accounted for three-fifths of the State's land, and stretched east to Nova...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is also known as Fort Edgecomb State Historic Site. On October 1, 1969, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
and on December 22, 1991, its boundaries were increased to create an historic district
Historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries, historic districts receive legal protection from development....
.
History
The fort was built as part of the U.S. second system of fortifications, guarding the then-important port of Wiscasset, not only for its defense, but also to prevent ships from breaking the embargo. Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
's Embargo
Embargo Act of 1807
The Embargo Act of 1807 and the subsequent Nonintercourse Acts were American laws restricting American ships from engaging in foreign trade between the years of 1807 and 1812. The Acts were diplomatic responses by presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison designed to protect American interests...
was not popular with American merchants, and it is said that the only time Fort Edgecomb's cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
were fired was in salute at James Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
's inauguration (or, less tactfully, to celebrate his lifting of the Embargo).
During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, this post saw considerable activity holding British prisoners of war, many of them brought to Wiscasset harbor by American privateersmen. In 1814, Fort Edgecomb became an important base in defending against a possible British attack on mid-coast Maine. It remained manned until 1818, and was reactivated during the Civil War.
The Friends of Fort Edgecomb celebrated the bicentennial of the Fort June 13, 2009, on the grounds of the fort.