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Lot Essay
The Seven Years' War (1756-1763) resulted in sizeable territorial additions to the British Empire, most notably the hitherto French-occupied vastness of Canada. This was largely achieved through the assault and capture of the fortress and city of Quebec which, even though primarily a land-based operation, could not have been successfully mounted without the support of the large naval squadron lying in the St. Lawrence River.
The fleet which convoyed and supported the troops consisted of twenty ships-of-the-line, together with numerous smaller craft under the overall command of Vice-Admiral Charles Saunders. The various elements of this fleet gradually assembled at Louisbourg, Cape Breton Island, and began moving up the St. Lawrence on 1st June 1759. By 26th June Saunders had anchored most of his ships off the Isle d'Orleans, a few miles below Quebec, and this marked the beginning of the protracted campaign to take the city After sporadic activity throughout July and August, as many troops as could be spared from General Wolfe's main force were ferried up-river during the night of 4th September and over the coming days, men and ships took up their final positions. The assault was launched on 13th September and although Wolfe himself was killed at the moment of victory, the French commander was also mortally wounded and the defender lost heart and retreated into Quebec which surrendered four days later. It was a triumph for British arms and whilst the credit went largely to the martyred General Wolfe, there is no doubt that he could not have accomplished his objective without the Royal Navy at his back.
The fleet which convoyed and supported the troops consisted of twenty ships-of-the-line, together with numerous smaller craft under the overall command of Vice-Admiral Charles Saunders. The various elements of this fleet gradually assembled at Louisbourg, Cape Breton Island, and began moving up the St. Lawrence on 1st June 1759. By 26th June Saunders had anchored most of his ships off the Isle d'Orleans, a few miles below Quebec, and this marked the beginning of the protracted campaign to take the city After sporadic activity throughout July and August, as many troops as could be spared from General Wolfe's main force were ferried up-river during the night of 4th September and over the coming days, men and ships took up their final positions. The assault was launched on 13th September and although Wolfe himself was killed at the moment of victory, the French commander was also mortally wounded and the defender lost heart and retreated into Quebec which surrendered four days later. It was a triumph for British arms and whilst the credit went largely to the martyred General Wolfe, there is no doubt that he could not have accomplished his objective without the Royal Navy at his back.