Events from the year 1759 in Canada.

Incumbents

Louis XV Louis XV (15 February 1710 – 10 May 1774), known as Louis the Beloved (french: le Bien-Aimé), was King of France from 1 September 1715 until his death in 1774. He succeeded his great-grandfather Louis XIV at the age of five. Until he reache ...

* British and Irish Monarch: George II

Governors

Governor General of New France Governor General of New France was the vice-regal post in New France from 1663 until 1760, and it was the last French vice-regal post. It was replaced by the British post of Governor of the Province of Quebec following the fall of New France ...

Pierre François de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnal Pierre de Rigaud de Vaudreuil de Cavagnial, marquis de Vaudreuil (22 November 1698 – 4 August 1778) was a Canadian-born colonial governor of French Canada in North America. He was governor of French Louisiana (1743–1753) and in 1755 be ...

* Colonial Governor of Louisiana:

Louis Billouart Louis Billouart, Chevalier de Kerlérec (1704–1770) was a career French naval officer with 25 years experience who was appointed as the governor of the French colony of Louisiana, serving from 1753 to 1763. The former governor, Pierre Françoi ...

Governor of Nova Scotia The following is a list of the governors and lieutenant governors of Nova Scotia. Though the present day office of the lieutenant governor in Nova Scotia came into being only upon the province's entry into Canadian Confederation in 1867, the po ...

: Charles Lawrence * Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland: Richard Edwards

Events

* Tuesday May 22 - A British fleet approaches

Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirte ...

. * Thursday June 28 - French

fire ship A fire ship or fireship, used in the days of wooden rowed or sailing ships, was a ship filled with combustibles, or gunpowder deliberately set on fire and steered (or, when possible, allowed to drift) into an enemy fleet, in order to destroy sh ...

s, intended to burn the British fleet, at Quebec, are taken ashore by British sailors. * Thursday July 26 - Carillon (

Fort Ticonderoga Fort Ticonderoga (), formerly Fort Carillon, is a large 18th-century star fort built by the French at a narrows near the south end of Lake Champlain, in northern New York, in the United States. It was constructed by Canadian-born French milit ...

) is abandoned by the French. * Saturday July 28 - Another French fireship attack fails against the British. * Tuesday July 31 - British forces attempt to take French fortifications at Montmorency and fail bitterly. * August 8 to August 9 - British guns, on Pointe Lévis, fire the lower town of Quebec. * Thursday September 13 -

James Wolfe James Wolfe (2 January 1727 – 13 September 1759) was a British Army officer known for his training reforms and, as a major general, remembered chiefly for his victory in 1759 over the French at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in Quebec. ...

lands a force at Fuller's Cove, between 1 and 2 in the morning. They climb to the

Plains of Abraham The Plains of Abraham (french: Plaines d'Abraham) is a historic area within the Battlefields Park in Quebec City, Quebec, anada. It was established on 17 March 1908. The land is the site of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, which took plac ...

. At 6 a.m.,

Marquis de Montcalm Louis-Joseph de Montcalm-Grozon, Marquis de Montcalm de Saint-Veran (28 February 1712 – 14 September 1759) was a French soldier best known as the commander of the forces in North America during the Seven Years' War (whose North American th ...

is informed that the British have accomplished what he deemed impossible; but discredits the report. With 4,500, he fights about an equal number; but his men cannot resist bayonets. Each leader receives a mortal wound. Wolfe asks an officer to support him so that his followers may not be discouraged by his fall. * Friday September 14 - Montcalm dies in the Château St-Louis. * Monday September 17 - Capitulation of Quebec. * Tuesday September 18 - The British take possession of Quebec. * Proclamation issued by Governor of Nova Scotia invites

New Englanders New Englanders are the inhabitants of the New England region in the Northeastern United States. Beginning with the New England Colonies, the name "New Englander" refers to those who live in the six New England states or those with cultural or fami ...

to settle there.

Births

Deaths

* September 13 -

, British Army officer (born 1727) * September 14 -

, French Military Commander (Born 1712)

Historical documents

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...

must be preserved to check

New England New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York to the west and by the Canadian provinces ...

, which has forces to otherwise take all French colonies in America From London,

writes his mother "I shall carry this business thro' with my best abilities," but its outcome is in

Providence Providence often refers to: * Providentia, the divine personification of foresight in ancient Roman religion * Divine providence, divinely ordained events and outcomes in Christianity * Providence, Rhode Island, the capital of Rhode Island in the ...

's hands "Let the wisdom of the people ..how itself" - To avoid harm, Wolfe advises Quebec-area residents not to resist his forces British landing on Île d'Orléans are pleased by polite note left by parish

curate A curate () is a person who is invested with the ''care'' or ''cure'' (''cura'') ''of souls'' of a parish. In this sense, "curate" means a parish priest; but in English-speaking countries the term ''curate'' is commonly used to describe clergy ...

and "the beauties and situation of this island" "The General strictly forbids the inhuman practice of

scalping Scalping is the act of cutting or tearing a part of the human scalp, with hair attached, from the head, and generally occurred in warfare with the scalp being a trophy. Scalp-taking is considered part of the broader cultural practice of the taki ...

, except when the enemy are Indians, or

Canadians Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

dressed like Indians." Wolfe's long account of his mixed success attacking French positions downriver from Quebec, and his qualms (Note: "savages" used) "General Wolfe is endeavouring to draw the flower of the

French Army History Early history The first permanent army, paid with regular wages, instead of feudal levies, was established under Charles VII of France, Charles VII in the 1420 to 1430s. The Kings of France needed reliable troops during and after the ...

..o an engagement on his own ground, before he abandons it." After briefly describing " metropolis of the French dominions in America" before

bombardment A bombardment is an attack by artillery fire or by dropping bombs from aircraft on fortifications, combatants, or towns and buildings. Prior to World War I, the term was only applied to the bombardment of defenseless or undefended objects, ...

, eyewitness depicts its destruction "General discontent prevail'd mong the French, andnow was the time to strike" - Troops are ordered into boats for landing upriver from Quebec Landed at 4 a.m. on September 13, British troops are impatiently eager to attack and determined not to be captured and scalped Advancing, holding their fire and then firing "close and heavy discharge" is described by Lt. John Knox at centre of British front line "He died and conquered" - Wolfe dies contented at French rout after they fire from too far away (sometimes only bruising British) Capitulation,

surrender Surrender may refer to: * Surrender (law), the early relinquishment of a tenancy * Surrender (military), the relinquishment of territory, combatants, facilities, or armaments to another power Film and television * ''Surrender'' (1927 film), an ...

and occupation of Quebec City, despite brief attack by French artillery outside its walls Continuing resistance downriver from Quebec City leads to burning of 1,100 houses and hundreds of acres of grain, plus

plundering Looting is the act of stealing, or the taking of goods by force, typically in the midst of a military, political, or other social crisis, such as war, natural disasters (where law and civil enforcement are temporarily ineffective), or rioting. ...

"Humane and tender" -

Hospital A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment with specialized health science and auxiliary healthcare staff and medical equipment. The best-known type of hospital is the general hospital, which typically has an emergen ...

run by "reserved and very respectful"

nuns A nun is a woman who vows to dedicate her life to religious service, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery or convent.''The Oxford English Dictionary'', vol. X, page 599. The term is o ...

treat wounded and ill British soldiers as properly as other patients Quebec City priest consoles himself about its fall by "rendering spiritual services to the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

and Scotch Catholics" among British occupiers For victory at Quebec,

sermon A sermon is a religious discourse or oration by a preacher, usually a member of clergy. Sermons address a scriptural, theological, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law, or behavior within both past and present contexts. ...

credits

for "a Combination of minute Circumstances" and for pointing to "the critical Moment" in

battle A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and for ...

Murray Murray may refer to: Businesses * Murray (bicycle company), an American manufacturer of low-cost bicycles * Murrays, an Australian bus company * Murray International Trust, a Scottish investment trust * D. & W. Murray Limited, an Australian who ...

warns Canadians to shift favour from Vaudreuil "to a free people, wise, generous, ready to embrace you, to free you from a severe despotism" "A most grotesque appearance" - Guarding against

frostbite Frostbite is a skin injury that occurs when exposed to extreme low temperatures, causing the freezing of the skin or other tissues, commonly affecting the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin areas. Most often, frostbite occurs in t ...

makes Quebec garrison "rather resemble a

masquerade Masquerade or Masquerader may refer to: Events * Masquerade ball, a costumed dance event * Masquerade ceremony, a rite or cultural event in many parts of the world, especially the Caribbean and Africa * Masqueraders, the performers in the West ...

than a body of regular troops" Benjamin Franklin's

ironic Irony (), in its broadest sense, is the juxtaposition of what on the surface appears to be the case and what is actually the case or to be expected; it is an important rhetorical device and literary technique. Irony can be categorized into d ...

list of reasons Canada should be returned to French, in reply to serious opinion that way Wendat seem so "satisfied with the change of Masters" that they don't join French resistance to British (Note: "savages" used)

John Knox John Knox ( gd, Iain Cnocc) (born – 24 November 1572) was a Scottish minister, Reformed theologian, and writer who was a leader of the country's Reformation. He was the founder of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Born in Giffordgat ...

obtains list of words in local Indigenous language, including " quitchimanitoo" (Note: racial stereotypes)

Sir William Johnson Sir William Johnson, 1st Baronet of New York ( – 11 July 1774), was a British Army officer and colonial administrator from Ireland. As a young man, Johnson moved to the Province of New York to manage an estate purchased by his uncle, Royal Na ...

describes defeat of French force attempting to lift his

siege of Fort Niagara The Battle of Fort Niagara was a siege late in the French and Indian War, the North American theatre of the Seven Years' War. The British siege of Fort Niagara in July 1759 was part of a campaign to remove French control of the Great Lakes and Oh ...

, and its fall

Robert Rogers Robert Rogers may refer to: Politics * Robert Rogers (Irish politician) (died 1719), Irish politician, MP for Cork City 1692–1699 *Robert Rogers (Manitoba politician) (1864–1936), Canadian politician * Robert Rogers, Baron Lisvane (born 1950), ...

writes to "King Uncus, head

Sachem Sachems and sagamores are paramount chiefs among the Algonquians or other Native American tribes of northeastern North America, including the Iroquois. The two words are anglicizations of cognate terms (c. 1622) from different Eastern Al ...

of the Mohegan Indians," about recruiting company of 50 men (Note: "savages" used) Capt. Jacob Nawnawampeteoonk, of "a company of

Stockbridge Indians Stockbridge may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Stockbridge, Edinburgh, a suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland * Stockbridge, Hampshire * Stockbridge, West Sussex * Stockbridge Anticline, one of a series of parallel east–west trending folds in th ...

," is among Indigenous fighters and officers on British side Summary of Gen. Amherst's taking of Ticonderoga (Fort Carillon) and Crown Point, plus comment on significance of these events

Rogers' Rangers Rogers' Rangers was a company of soldiers from the Province of New Hampshire raised by Major Robert Rogers and attached to the British Army during the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War). The unit was quickly adopted into the British army as ...

destroy Missisquoi village

Odanak Odanak is an Abenaki First Nations reserve in the Central Quebec region, Quebec, Canada. The mostly First Nations population as of the Canada 2021 Census was 481. The territory is located near the mouth of the Saint-François River at its confluenc ...

after British men under flag of truce are captured by " St. Francis Indians"

Guerilla warfare Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare in which small groups of combatants, such as paramilitary personnel, armed civilians, or irregulars, use military tactics including ambushes, sabotage, raids, petty warfare, hit-and-run tac ...

in Nova Scotia includes ambushes followed by torture killings and bodies left on road (Note: gruesome details) No

suit A suit, lounge suit, or business suit is a set of clothes comprising a suit jacket and trousers of identical textiles worn with a collared dress shirt, necktie, and dress shoes. A skirt suit is similar, but with a matching skirt instead of tr ...

will be allowed in any Nova Scotia court for recovery of land based on

title A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the f ...

claimed by " former French inhabitants" No trade to be allowed (temporarily) with various Indigenous peoples, with exception of traders authorized by Nova Scotia government Halifax may send to

workhouse In Britain, a workhouse () was an institution where those unable to support themselves financially were offered accommodation and employment. (In Scotland, they were usually known as poorhouses.) The earliest known use of the term ''workhouse'' ...

"idle persons," beggars, fortune tellers, runaways etc., while unsupported children are to be

apprenticed Apprenticeship is a system for training a new generation of practitioners of a trade or profession with on-the-job training and often some accompanying study (classroom work and reading). Apprenticeships can also enable practitioners to gain a ...

out British officer says

muskrat The muskrat (''Ondatra zibethicus'') is a medium-sized semiaquatic rodent native to North America and an introduced species in parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. The muskrat is found in wetlands over a wide range of climates and habitat ...

's fine fur "is equal in perfume to the genuine

musk Musk (Persian: مشک, ''Mushk'') is a class of aromatic substances commonly used as base notes in perfumery. They include glandular secretions from animals such as the musk deer, numerous plants emitting similar fragrances, and artificial sub ...

," but too strong and thus unhealthful to use lining

waistcoats A waistcoat ( UK and Commonwealth, or ; colloquially called a weskit), or vest ( US and Canada), is a sleeveless upper-body garment. It is usually worn over a dress shirt and necktie and below a coat as a part of most men's formal wear. I ...

Knox describes seeing

crossbill The crossbill is a genus, ''Loxia'', of birds in the finch family (Fringillidae), with six species. These birds are characterised by the mandibles with crossed tips, which gives the group its English name. Adult males tend to be red or orange in ...

s (and capturing one) and

belugas The beluga whale (/bɪˈluːɡə/) (Delphinapterus leucas) is an Arctic and sub-Arctic cetacean. It is one of two members of the family Monodontidae, along with the narwhal, and the only member of the genus Delphinapterus. It is also known as the wh ...

(that

musket A musket is a muzzle-loaded long gun that appeared as a smoothbore weapon in the early 16th century, at first as a heavier variant of the arquebus, capable of penetrating plate armour. By the mid-16th century, this type of musket gradually d ...

balls bounce off of) in St. Lawrence RiverJohn Knox
"A parcel of small birds"
(June 19, 1759), ''An Historical Journal of the Campaigns in North-America, for the Years 1757, 1758, 1759, and 1760''; ''Vol. I'', pgs. 283-5. Accessed 21 February 2022

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1759 In Canada