Once the capital of Canada from 1841 to 1844, the city's strategic location at the confluence of Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River, and the Cataraqui River made it a key military and trading post. This area, traditionally occupied by the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples, was first explored by Europeans when French explorer Samuel de Champlain visited in the 17th century. The French established Fort Cataraqui, later known as Fort Frontenac, which changed hands several times due to military conflicts, underscoring its strategic importance.

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, Kingston underwent significant transformation, evolving from a military stronghold into a bustling industrial hub with the establishment of manufacturing industries along its waterfront. Kingston also emerged as a centre of education and correctional administration, home to the Kingston Penitentiary, one of Canada's oldest prisons, and institutions like Queen's University and the Royal Military College of Canada.