The
Battle of the Plains of Abraham, fought
September 13,
1759, was a battle during the
Seven Years War (known in the United States as the
French and Indian War) fought outside
Quebec City in
New France. In the battle the
British forces defeated the
French and conquered New France. The French side was led by General
Louis-Joseph de Montcalm-Gozon, (Marquis of Montcalm), a skilled leader who had defeated the British earlier in the war. His decision to leave the well-defended town and engage the British on the battlefield is often viewed as a mistake. The British side was led by General
James Wolfe, also a noted commander. He had moved his forces down the St. Lawrence and, secretly, up the lightly defended cliffs to the
Plains of Abraham during the night, surprising the French forces and securing a good strategic position. In the ensuing fighting both Generals were killed, but the British emerged victorious. This battle gave the British control over all of New France, later Quebec, and ended French power in what is now a part of Canada. The
Treaty of Paris was signed in
1763 to end the war and the government of France chose to keep
Guadaloupe instead of
Quebec.
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