When New Brunswick became a separate colony from Nova Scotia in 1784, Ste. Anne 's Point became the provincial capital, winning out over Parrtown (present - day Saint John) due to its central inland location. This made it less prone to American attack from the sea. A street plan was laid out to the west of the original townsite, King 's College (now the University of New Brunswick) was founded, and the locale was renamed "Frederick 's Town '', in honour of the second son of King George III of the United Kingdom, Prince Frederick Augustus, Duke of York. The name was shortened to Fredericton shortly after the city became the official provincial capital of New Brunswick on 25 April 1785. Thus, in a period of less than three years, the area of Fredericton went from being a sparsely populated region to being the capital of the new colony of New Brunswick.
when did fredericton become the capital of new brunswick
25 April 1785