General Jeffery Amherst Tells His Story of Taking Montreal City and Ending French Canada

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I am Jeffery Amherst, and I had the honor of serving as a general in His Majesty’s Army during the Seven Years’ War—a war that shaped the future of North America. My career spanned several decades, and I played a crucial role in expanding British influence and control over vast new territories.

I was born in 1717 in Kent, England, to a family that valued military service. From a young age, I was drawn to the life of a soldier, and by the time I was a young man, I had joined the British Army. My early years were spent serving in Europe, where I gained valuable experience in warfare. However, it was across the Atlantic, in North America, where I would make my mark.

The year 1758 was when my career truly began to take shape. I was given command of the British forces in the campaign against the French in North America during the Seven Years’ War, which many of you might know as the French and Indian War. At this time, France held vast territories in Canada, and Britain sought to challenge their control.

One of my first major tasks was leading the siege of Louisbourg, a key French fortress on Cape Breton Island. This was no easy task—Louisbourg was heavily fortified and stood as a gateway to the interior of French Canada. But with careful planning, naval support, and determined troops, we captured Louisbourg in July 1758. It was a significant victory, opening the way to the heart of French Canada.

Following this triumph, I was promoted and took command of the British forces in the North American theater. My next goal was even more ambitious: the capture of Quebec, the most important French stronghold in North America. This operation, however, was carried out by one of my officers, Major General James Wolfe, whom I trusted deeply. As you know, Wolfe's daring victory on the Plains of Abraham in 1759 secured Quebec for the British, a turning point in the war.

While Wolfe was engaging in Quebec, I was tasked with leading an expedition to capture Montreal and complete the conquest of Canada. In 1760, after a series of successful maneuvers, we took Montreal without a fight, effectively ending French control in North America. With that, New France was ceded to Britain, marking the beginning of British dominance in the region.

However, my story doesn’t end there. Following the conquest of Canada, I was appointed the first British Governor-General of British North America. It was now my duty to oversee these new territories and ensure that peace was maintained. But peace is never easily achieved. I faced fierce resistance from the indigenous peoples who had once allied with the French, and they did not take kindly to British rule. This culminated in what became known as Pontiac’s Rebellion in 1763, led by the Ottawa leader Pontiac. The rebellion was a violent conflict, and my actions during this period are remembered with controversy, particularly for my suggestion of using smallpox-infected blankets as a means to suppress the indigenous uprising. Although I never personally carried out this plan, its very mention remains a dark stain on my legacy.

I returned to England in 1763, and though I continued to serve the crown in various military capacities, I never again commanded troops in North America. Later in life, I was honored with titles and appointments, including becoming Baron Amherst. In my later years, I lived quietly at my estate in Kent, reflecting on the events that had shaped an entire continent.

My legacy is complex—while I was a successful military commander who helped shape the future of the British Empire, I am also remembered for the harsh measures I took to maintain control. History is seldom straightforward, but it is important to learn from it—both the victories and the mistakes.

And so, I leave you with this: leadership requires difficult decisions, but always consider the weight of those decisions on the people they affect, for history will remember more than just your victories.

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