History Browser

This 1810 plan of the 1759 siege of Quebec was based on the survey made by order of Admiral Saunders, the Royal Navy commander of the expedition. (Library and Archives Canada, C-014523)

On the morning of 13 September 1759, General Montcalm saw the British army deployed on the fields west of Quebec. He led his French and Canadian troops out of the city, without waiting to gather his full forces. The resulting battle was a crushing defeat for the French.

This early-20th century engraving portrays the French general's return to Quebec. Although it omits any sign of the nasty belly wound that would kill Montcalm the day after the battle, this image accurately shows the wounded man supported on his horse by four soldiers.

British forces assemble in an abandoned farmer's field, the Plains of Abraham, on top of a steep hill in Quebec. General Wolfe sets up two lines of soldiers, many of them Highlanders, each loading two musketballs, to maximize their firepower. From the television series "Canada: A People's History." Includes links to educational resources, bibliography, games, puzzles, and video clips.

Just 15 minutes after the battle on the Plains of Abraham had begun, the French line had crumbled. Even though the French vastly outnumbered the British, the Governor, the Marquis de Vaudreuil, decided they would not fight again the next day. Uncoordinated French troops start shooting at their enemy on the Plains of Abraham. They are quickly defeated, and retreat within 15 minutes, after the British fire across a line a mile wide, with the power of double-loaded muskets, followed by a full British bayonet advance. The battle lasted no more than 15 minutes. From the television series "Canada: A People's History." Includes links to educational resources, bibliography, games, puzzles, and video clips.

This 1769 work by Benjamin West is the best-known image of British General James Wolfe’s death at Quebec in 1759. Seen from left to right are: Colonel William Howe wearing a cap and a green coat, Simon Fraser of the 78th Foot just above, Captain Debbieg, an Indian, Brigadier Robert Monckton, Colonel Napier, Captain Hervey Smith ADC, Colonel Isaac Barré, Colonel Williamson of the Royal Regiment of Artillery and Lieutenant Henry Browne of the 22nd Foot above, Wolfe, Surgeon Robert Adair in a blue civilian coat, Wolfe’s servant and a grenadier of the 35th Foot. West’s painting is an artistic masterpiece but it is far from accurate. The artist put in anyone who could prove they were at Quebec and who would pay him. Thus, officers who were in various other places are all grouped around Wolfe. One who did not pay (Henry Browne, who helped carry Wolfe from the field) is shown obscured. Adair did not attend Wolfe. Napier’s identity is in doubt. (National Gallery of Canada)

Major-General James Wolfe and 4800 British troops finally capture Quebec City after an intense battle on the Plains of Abraham.

Uncoordinated French troops start shooting at their enemy on the Plains of Abraham. They are quickly defeated, and retreat within 15 minutes, after the British fire across a line a mile wide, with the power of double-loaded muskets, followed by a full British bayonet advance. The battle lasted no more than 15 minutes. Uncoordinated French troops start shooting at their enemy on the Plains of Abraham. They are quickly defeated, and retreat within 15 minutes, after the British fire across a line a mile wide, with the power of double-loaded muskets, followed by a full British bayonet advance. The battle lasted no more than 15 minutes. From the television series "Canada: A People's History." Includes links to educational resources, bibliography, games, puzzles, video clips, and biography of General Montcalm.

This 1763 painting depicts the death of General James Wolfe. This work by Edward Penney is probably much closer to the truth of how Wolfe died than Benjamin West’s more famous painting. Of all the accounts of the general’s last moments, Captain John Knox’s version is generally accepted as the most credible. Knox stated that ‘various accounts have been circulated of General Wolfe’s manner of dying, his last words, and the officers into whose hands he fell; and many, from a vanity of talking, claimed the honour of being his supporters after he was wounded; but […] Lieutenant Brown, of the grenadiers of Louisbourg and the twenty-second regiment […] with Mr. Henderson, a volunteer in the same company, and a private man, were the three persons who carried his excellency to the rear; which an artillery officer seeing, immediately flew to his assistance; and these were all that attended him in his dying moments.’

This web page briefly covers the British necessity to maintain the defences of Québec after the defeat of the French and their eventual modification after the American Revolution.