The Town of York was the second capital of the district of Upper Canada and the predecessor to Toronto (1834). It was established in 1793 by Lieutenant - Governor John Graves Simcoe as a "temporary '' location for the capital of Upper Canada, while he made plans to build a capital near today 's London, Ontario. Simcoe renamed the location York after Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, George III 's second son. Simcoe gave up his plan to build a capital at London, and York became the permanent capital of Upper Canada on February 1, 1796. That year Simcoe returned to Britain and was temporarily replaced by Peter Russell.
when did york became the capital of upper canada
February 1, 1796