James Wolfe was the British army general who led the English troops at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759. Heir to a long military tradition, he had previously fought in several wars for Great Britain. The Battle of the Plains of Abraham was part of the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763), during which France and Great Britain and their respective allies clashed around the world.

1759 - 1759

France and Great Britain wage war

In 1759, the struggle between France and Great Britain to control North America came to a head. That year, New France—a territory then covering almost two thirds of the continent—fell under British rule. The event took place on the Plains of Abraham in Québec City, where the armies of generals James Wolfe and Louis-Joseph de Montcalm skirmished on the morning of September 13. Though both generals died in battle, the British were victorious by the end of the confrontation. A chapter in history had come to an end. New France was no more, and its territory had become part of the British Empire.

Portrait of General James Wolfe directing operations in Québec City

J.S.C. Schaak James Wolfe was the British army general who led the English troops at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759. Heir to a long military tradition, he had previously fought in several wars for Great Britain. The Battle of the Plains of Abraham was part of the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763), during which France and Great Britain and their respective allies clashed around the world.

Chronoscope What do you notice in the image? (unilingual French for a limited time)

Depicted period: 1759

Source: Library and Archives Canada Document in the public domain (free of copyright) - Date: circa 1766

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