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1759 in Canada

Events from the year 1759 in Canada.

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1759
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Incumbents

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Governors

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Events

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  • Tuesday May 22 - A British fleet approaches Quebec.
  • Thursday June 28 - French fire ships, intended to burn the British fleet, at Quebec, are taken ashore by British sailors.
  • Thursday July 26 - Carillon (Fort Ticonderoga) 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 lands a force at Fuller's Cove, between 1 and 2 in the morning. They climb to the Plains of Abraham. At 6 a.m., Marquis de Montcalm 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 to settle there.

Births

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Deaths

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Historical documents

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Canada must be preserved to check New England, which has forces to otherwise take all French colonies in America[4]

From London, James Wolfe writes his mother "I shall carry this business thro' with my best abilities," but its outcome is in Providence's hands[5]

"Let the wisdom of the people[...]show itself" - To avoid harm, Wolfe advises Quebec-area residents not to resist his forces[6]

British landing on Île d'Orléans are pleased by polite note left by parish curate and "the beauties and situation of this island"[7]

"The General strictly forbids the inhuman practice of scalping, except when the enemy are Indians, or Canadians dressed like Indians."[8]

Wolfe's long account of his mixed success attacking French positions downriver from Quebec, and his qualms (Note: "savages" used)[9]

"General Wolfe is endeavouring to draw the flower of the French Army[...]to an engagement on his own ground, before he abandons it."[10]

After briefly describing "metropolis of the French dominions in America" before bombardment, eyewitness depicts its destruction[11]

"General discontent prevail'd [among the French, and] now was the time to strike" - Troops are ordered into boats for landing upriver from Quebec[12]

Landed at 4 a.m. on September 13, British troops are impatiently eager to attack and determined not to be captured and scalped[13]

Advancing, holding their fire and then firing "close and heavy discharge" is described by Lt. John Knox at centre of British front line[14]

"He died and conquered" - Wolfe dies contented at French rout after they fire from too far away (sometimes only bruising British)[15]

Capitulation, surrender and occupation of Quebec City, despite brief attack by French artillery outside its walls[16]

Continuing resistance downriver from Quebec City leads to burning of 1,100 houses and hundreds of acres of grain, plus plundering[17]

"Humane and tender" - Hospital run by "reserved and very respectful" nuns treat wounded and ill British soldiers as properly as other patients[18]

Quebec City priest consoles himself about its fall by "rendering spiritual services to the German and Scotch Catholics" among British occupiers[19]

For victory at Quebec, sermon credits Providence for "a Combination of minute Circumstances" and for pointing to "the critical Moment" in battle[20]

Murray warns Canadians to shift favour from Vaudreuil "to a free people, wise, generous, ready to embrace you, to free you from a severe despotism"[21]

"A most grotesque appearance" - Guarding against frostbite makes Quebec garrison "rather resemble a masquerade than a body of regular troops"[22]

Benjamin Franklin's ironic[broken anchor] list of reasons Canada should be returned to French, in reply to serious opinion that way[23]

Wendat seem so "satisfied with the change of Masters" that they don't join French resistance to British (Note: "savages" used)[24]

John Knox obtains list of words in local Indigenous language, including "quitchimanitoo" (Note: racial stereotypes)[25]

Sir William Johnson describes defeat of French force attempting to lift his siege of Fort Niagara, and its fall[26]

Robert Rogers writes to "King Uncus, head Sachem of the Mohegan Indians," about recruiting company of 50 men (Note: "savages" used)[27]

Capt. Jacob Nawnawampeteoonk, of "a company of Stockbridge Indians," is among Indigenous fighters and officers on British side[28]

Summary of Gen. Amherst's taking of Ticonderoga (Fort Carillon) and Crown Point, plus comment on significance of these events[29]

Rogers' Rangers destroy Missisquoi village Odanak after British men under flag of truce are captured by "St. Francis Indians"[30]

Guerilla warfare in Nova Scotia includes ambushes followed by torture killings and bodies left on road (Note: gruesome details)[31]

No suit will be allowed in any Nova Scotia court for recovery of land based on title claimed by "former French inhabitants"[32]

No trade to be allowed (temporarily) with various Indigenous peoples, with exception of traders authorized by Nova Scotia government[33]

Halifax may send to workhouse "idle persons," beggars, fortune tellers, runaways etc., while unsupported children are to be apprenticed out[34]

British officer says muskrat's fine fur "is equal in perfume to the genuine musk," but too strong and thus unhealthful to use lining waistcoats[35]

Knox describes seeing crossbills (and capturing one) and belugas (that musket balls bounce off of) in St. Lawrence River[36]

References

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  1. ^ Guéganic (2008), p. 13.
  2. ^ "George I". Official web site of the British monarchy. 30 December 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  3. ^ Scott, Douglas D.; Bleed, Peter; Masich, Andrew E.; Pitsch, Jason (August 1997). "An Inscribed Native American Battle Image From The Little Bighorn Battlefield". Plains Anthropologist. 42 (161): 287–302. doi:10.1080/2052546.1997.11931824. ISSN 0032-0447.
  4. ^ Etienne de Silhouette, "Memoir of Silhouette on Inexpediency of Abandoning Canada" (translation; February 1759), in Anglo-French Boundary Disputes in the West, 1749-1763, French Series, Volume II, Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library, Volume XXVII (1936), pgs. 252-3. Accessed 16 February 2022
  5. ^ Letter of James Wolfe (Spring 1759), General Wolfe's Letters to His Parents. Accessed 3 March 2022 https://collections.library.utoronto.ca/view/wolfe:F7025 (swipe to F7025_0947_B137_01; see also following letter, where he mentions plan to quit military service; and Wolfe's 1759 journal which occasionally displays his criticism of army and navy colleagues)
  6. ^ "By his Excellency James Wolfe" (June 28, 1759), The Life of Major-General James Wolfe (1864), pgs. 517-18. (See July order to out-parties to burn all but churches, and entry for "15th (August)" when capture of British marines is avenged by destruction of buildings and grain, and execution and scalping of captured priest and others; see also murder of two children for being too noisy) Accessed 16 February 2022
  7. ^ John Knox, Note from curate (June 27, 1759), An Historical Journal of the Campaigns in North-America, for the Years 1757, 1758, 1759, and 1760; Vol. I, pgs. 294(bottom)-295. (See also that "A gentleman at Quebec" known for his politeness to British prisoners is granted request that his country seat be spared) Accessed 21 February 2022
  8. ^ John Knox, "Orders; 24th (July 1759)", An Historical Journal of the Campaigns in North-America, for the Years 1757, 1758, 1759, and 1760; Vol. I, pg. 345. Accessed 22 February 2022
  9. ^ Letter of James Wolfe (September 2, 1759), An Authentic Register of the British Successes; The Second Edition (1760), pgs. 127-36. (See different account of battle when "The General Ordered the Grenadiers" and "a chain of concurrent circumstances that defeated the General's plan"; see also officer's conclusion that Quebec will not be stormed and fortress for over-wintering British forces will not be built) Accessed 17 February 2022
  10. ^ John Knox, "General Wolfe is endeavouring" (September 2, 1759), An Historical Journal of the Campaigns in North-America, for the Years 1757, 1758, 1759, and 1760; Vol. II, pg. 40. (See also comparison of "absurd" French style of noisy infantry attack vs. British waiting "in perfect silence" to fire at close range) Accessed 23 February 2022
  11. ^ "This city" (September 2, 1759), Genuine Letters from a Volunteer, in the British Service, at Quebec, pgs. 5-6. (See "Vue de l'église de Notre-Dame-de-la-Victoire,(...)démolie en 1759" and also nun's account of fear and privation at general hospital) Accessed 16 February 2022
  12. ^ "12th (September 1759)" An Accurate and Authentic Journal of the Siege of Quebec (1759), pgs. 32-4. Accessed 16 February 2022 (See report of disunity on French side as early as July, and evidence of despair, and word that Canadians want to rebel and give up Quebec to stop war; see also footnote with praise for Canadian troops' steadiness under fire)
  13. ^ "An attack is resolv'd on" An Accurate and Authentic Journal of the Siege of Quebec (1759), pgs. 35-6. (See also two more detailed accounts of battle here (Note: "savages" used) and here, and accounts of generals and admiral commanding, and also detailed narratives from French side here and here) Accessed 16 February 2022
  14. ^ John Knox, "This grand enterprise" (September 13, 1759), An Historical Journal of the Campaigns in North-America, for the Years 1757, 1758, 1759, and 1760; Vol. II, pgs. 68-71. (See also more details of battle (some gruesome)) Accessed 24 February 2022
  15. ^ "If the General should attempt to ascend the rock" An Accurate and Authentic Journal of the Siege of Quebec (1759), pgs. 39-41. Accessed 16 February 2022 (See more likely version of Wolfe's death, and also Montcalm dying happy not to see surrender of Quebec)
  16. ^ John Knox, "18th (September 1759)" An Historical Journal of the Campaigns in North-America, for the Years 1757, 1758, 1759, and 1760; Vol. II, pgs. 84-91. Accessed 25 February 2022
  17. ^ John Knox, "The detachments of regulars and rangers" (September 20, 1759), An Historical Journal of the Campaigns in North-America, for the Years 1757, 1758, 1759, and 1760; Vol. II, pgs. 94-5. (See also on subsequent pages mention both of marauding and generous British soldiers) Accessed 1 March 2022
  18. ^ John Knox, "The general hospital" (October 1, 1759), An Historical Journal of the Campaigns in North-America, for the Years 1757, 1758, 1759, and 1760; Vol. II, pgs. 153-5. (See also author dining with local gentry at hospital) Accessed 2 March 2022
  19. ^ Letter of Bernard Well (October 17, 1759), The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents; Vol. LXXI (1901). Accessed 19 February 2022 http://moses.creighton.edu/kripke/jesuitrelations/relations_71.html (scroll down to Page 23; see also British standing order that when religious processions pass, officers are to salute them)
  20. ^ Amos Adams, "In the whole Conduct of that Enterprize" "[...]A Sermon Delivered at Roxbury, October 25, 1759, on the general Thanksgiving [for] the Reduction of Quebec[....]" (Boston, 1759), pg. 25. (See also commentary on all that went well) 16 February 2022
  21. ^ John Knox, "The following spirited manifesto" (in French and English; November 2, 1759), An Historical Journal of the Campaigns in North-America, for the Years 1757, 1758, 1759, and 1760; Vol. II, pgs. 183-6. (See also rage of locals, "particularly the females," toward former governor general) Accessed 2 March 2022
  22. ^ John Knox, "Our guards, on the grand parade" (December 16, 1759), An Historical Journal of the Campaigns in North-America, for the Years 1757, 1758, 1759, and 1760; Vol. II, pgs. 231-2. (See also praise for locally manufactured cast iron stoves) Accessed 2 March 2022
  23. ^ (Benjamin Franklin), "Humourous [sic] Reasons for Restoring Canada" The London Chronicle: or, Universal Evening Post (December 25-27, 1759), U.S. National Archives. Accessed 3 March 2022
  24. ^ "General Murray's Report of the State of the Government of Quebec in Canada" (June 5, 1762), Documents Relating to the Constitutional History of Canada, 1759-1791 (1907), pg. 55. Accessed 3 March 2022
  25. ^ John Knox, "a curious Indian manuscript grammar" (October 8, 1759), An Historical Journal of the Campaigns in North-America, for the Years 1757, 1758, 1759, and 1760; Vol. II, pgs. 169-71. Accessed 2 March 2022
  26. ^ Letter of William Johnson (July 25, 1759), An Authentic Register of the British Successes; The Second Edition (1760), pgs. 80-1. (See how "the conquest of this fort was of infinite consequence") Accessed 17 February 2022 (See also that "Sir William Johnson's corp of savages" convince Indigenous opponents to "bury the hatchet and follow their example")
  27. ^ Letter of Robert Rogers (early 1759), Journals of Major Robert Rogers (1765), pgs. 125-7. Accessed 17 February 2022
  28. ^ Letter of Jeffery Amherst to Robert Rogers (February 13, 1759), Journals of Major Robert Rogers (1765), pg. 136. Accessed 18 February 2022
  29. ^ "General Amherst himself commanded" A Complete History of the Present War[....] (1761), pgs. 381-4 (See also Rogers' Rangers in action, and brief notes of French officer regarding retreat from Fort Carillon)
  30. ^ Letter of Jeffery Amherst to Robert Rogers (September 13, 1759), Journals of Major Robert Rogers (1765), pgs. 144-54. Accessed 18 February 2022
  31. ^ John Knox, "The rolls of the companies" (January 20, 1759), An Historical Journal of the Campaigns in North-America, for the Years 1757, 1758, 1759, and 1760; Vol. I, pgs. 223-4 (see also pg. 230). Accessed 21 February 2022
  32. ^ "An Act for the Quieting of Possessions to the Protestant Grantees of the Lands formerly occuppied by the French Inhabitants(....)" (1759), 33 George II - Chapter 3 (Session 1), British North American Legislative Database, 1758-1867. Accessed 16 February 2022
  33. ^ "An Act to prevent any private Trade or Commerce with the Indians" (1759), 33 George II - Chapter 13 (Session 2), British North American Legislative Database, 1758-1867. Accessed 16 February 2022
  34. ^ "An Act For regulating and maintaining an House of Correction or Work-House(....)" (1759), 33 George II - Chapter 1 (Session 1), British North American Legislative Database, 1758-1867. (See also "An Act for the Relief of the Poor in the Town of Halifax" and "An Act to prevent the importing disabled, infirm, and other useless Persons into this Province") Accessed 16 February 2022
  35. ^ John Knox, Description of muskrat (May 1759), An Historical Journal of the Campaigns in North-America, for the Years 1757, 1758, 1759, and 1760; Vol. I, pg. 244. (See Knox' extensive description of Nova Scotia's trees, mammals, birds, insects, fish and fogs (yes, fogs) on pgs. 241-9) Accessed 21 February 2022
  36. ^ John 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
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