European Military Leaders Of The Early Modern Era Codexery

James Wolfe

British officer killed while securing Quebec in 1759.

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James Wolfe was a British Army officer, born 2 January 1727 (Old Style) and died 13 September 1759. He is remembered chiefly for his victory over the French at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in Quebec, during which he was killed in action. His success in 1759 made him an icon of Britain's victory in the Seven Years' War and subsequent territorial expansion.

Background

James Wolfe was the only son of Lieutenant General Edward Wolfe, a veteran soldier of Anglo-Irish origin, and Henrietta Thompson. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in his father's 1st Marine regiment at age fourteen. Illness prevented him from taking part in the 1740 expedition against Cartagena.

He received his first commission as a second lieutenant in 1741 and transferred to the 12th Regiment of Foot in 1742, serving in Flanders during the War of the Austrian Succession. He fought at the Battle of Dettingen in 1743, where his horse was shot from under him, and later served in Scotland during the Jacobite Rising, fighting at Culloden in April under the Duke of Cumberland. He returned to the Continent in 1747 and was badly wounded at the Battle of Lauffeld.

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Test yourself

Three questions drawn from this entry’s sources. Pick an answer to check it.

1. In what year did James Wolfe die?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is 1759.

From the source: “Major-General 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 Abra”

2. In which place was James Wolfe born?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is Westerham, Kent, England.

3. In what year was James Wolfe born?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is 1727.

From the source: “James Wolfe was born at the local vicarage on 2 January 1727 (New Style or 22 December 1726 Old Style) at Westerham, Kent, the older of two sons of Colonel (later Lieutenant General) Edward Wolfe, a veteran soldier whose family was of Anglo”

Answers checked against the source article

Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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