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- MLA 8TH EDITION
- Marshall, Tabitha. 'Battle of the Plains of Abraham'. The Canadian Encyclopedia, 06 February 2019, Historica Canada. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/battle-of-the-plains-of-abraham. Accessed 01 February 2021.
- APA 6TH EDITION
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- CHICAGO 17TH EDITION
- Marshall, Tabitha, 'Battle of the Plains of Abraham'. In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Article published February 07, 2006; Last Edited February 06, 2019. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/battle-of-the-plains-of-abraham
- TURABIAN 8TH EDITION
- Marshall, Tabitha. The Canadian Encyclopedia, s.v. 'Battle of the Plains of Abraham', Last Edited February 06, 2019, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/battle-of-the-plains-of-abraham

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Published Online	February 7, 2006
Last Edited	February 6, 2019

The Battle of the Plains of Abraham (13 September 1759), also known as the Battle of Quebec, was a pivotal moment in the Seven Years’ War and in the history of Canada. A British invasion force led by General James Wolfe defeated French troops under the Marquis de Montcalm, leading to the surrender of Quebec to the British. Both commanding officers died from wounds sustained during the battle. The French never recaptured Quebec and effectively lost control of New France in 1760. At the end of the war in 1763 France surrendered many of its colonial possessions — including Canada — to the British.

Battle of the Plains of Abraham
Date	13 September 1759
Location	Quebec City, New France
Participants	Great Britain; France, Canadian Militia, Seven Nations
Casualties	658 British 650 French

Seven Years’ War

The battle was a key moment in the Seven Years’ War (1756–63), which was fought in Europe, India and North America (American history books refer to the conflict in North America as the French and Indian War). On one side was the alliance of France, Austria, Sweden, Saxony, Russia and Spain; on the other, the alliance of Britain, Prussia and Hanover. While France was preoccupied by the hostilities in Europe, Britain targeted French colonies overseas and attacked the French navy and merchant fleet, in the hope of destroying France as a commercial rival.

Although the French repulsed several British attacks in North America — including the successful defence of Fort Carillon by Montcalm — the British had made significant gains by 1759. On 26 July 1758, they captured the fortress of Louisbourg on Île Royale (Cape Breton Island), which led to the seizure of other French positions in Atlantic Canada, and left New France exposed to British ships, which could now sail up the St. Lawrence River. One of the brigadiers of the Louisbourg expedition was James Wolfe, who was praised in Britain and its American colonies for his role in taking the fortress.

Expedition to Quebec

James Wolfe, supported by a naval force under Vice-Admiral Charles Saunders, was appointed commanding officer of the British assault against the fortress city of Quebec in 1759. On 27 June 1759, Wolfe and his men landed on the Île d’Orléans; by the middle of July, the British also occupied positions on the southern bank of the St. Lawrence River at Point Lévis (directly across from Quebec), and on the northern shore about 13 km from the city, close to the Montmorency Falls and a French army encampment at Beauport. However, the French forces at Beauport were protected by the Montmorency River, and any attempts against the city of Quebec would have to face the fort’s battery of guns as well as the strong currents of the St. Lawrence. The French would be difficult to dislodge. The British attacked the French position at Beauport on 31 July but were met by fierce resistance and had to retreat.

At this point, Wolfe sent Brigadier James Murray to target French stores and shipping about 65 km upriver from Quebec. While this reduced the supplies available to the French defenders, it did not lure Montcalm into open battle. In desperation, Wolfe resorted to the systematic destruction of the buildings and countryside around Quebec, but Montcalm still refused to attack. However, in late August several British ships managed to navigate the difficult currents of the St. Lawrence River and sail past the Quebec batteries, establishing a strong British naval presence upriver of the city. The British command therefore decided to try landing an invasion force upriver from Quebec, cutting the city off from Montreal and forcing Montcalm and the French army to fight.

The British Attack

James Wolfe decided to land at L’Anse-au-Foulon, about 3 km upstream from Quebec City, at the base of a cliff 53 m high. While historians have debated the logic and merits of this decision, the British were fortunate, as the area was only lightly defended. Operating in darkness and silence, the naval boats fought the strong currents of the St. Lawrence and landed the advance force at just after 4 a.m. on 13 September 1759. A British force of light infantrymen led by Colonel William Howe (who would later command British forces during the American Revolution) scrambled up the cliff and subdued the French picket (advance guard). By the time the sun rose, Wolfe and the first division were on the plateau, and by 8 a.m. the entire force of 4,500 men had assembled. The British force stretched across the Plains of Abraham (named for 17th-century fisherman Abraham Martin) in a shallow horseshoe formation about 1 km long and two ranks deep.

The Battle of the Plains of Abraham

When Montcalm heard about the British landing and ascent, he decided to attack quickly before the British had the chance to establish themselves. Historians have criticized his response, suggesting that he should have waited for reinforcements to arrive from French detachments in the area. The French force consisted of about 4,500 men from the army at Beauport, many of whom were militia or Indigenous warriors (seeIndigenous-French Relations). Wolfe’s army was very close in size, but was composed almost entirely of regular soldiers, highly disciplined and trained for the field battle to come.

DID YOU KNOW?
Indigenous allied nations living on the réductions, or reserves, of New France were referred to as the Seven (or Nine) Fires,

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