Who was James Wolfe?
James Wolfe was soldier and military leader famous
for winning the battle that took Canda for the British from the
French at Quebec and dying in the process..
Date and Place of Birth:
2nd January 1727, Westerham, Kent, England.
Family Background:
Eldest son of Lieutenant-General Edward Wolfe, one of the
Duke of Marlborough's veterans and
Henrietta, daughter of Edward Thompson of Long Marston in Yorkshire.
Education:
1742 Commissioned in the Royal Marines aged 14.
Chronology/Biography of James Wolfe:
1741: Appointed
an ensign in the army aged fourteen.
1742: Wolfe went
on the Rhine campaign with the Twelth Foot (now the Suffolk Regiment).
1743: Fought at
the Battle of Dettingen as an Adjutant where he had a horse shot
from under him and was promoted to Lieutenant due to his bravery.
1744: Received a
commission in Barrel's Regiment, now the 4th Kings Own.
1745: Took part
as a Brigade-Major in the campaign to defeat the Jacobite army led
by Bonnie Prince Charlie. Fought at the
Battle of Falkirk as the Aid de Camp of General Hawley.
1746: James Wolfe
fought at the Battle of Culloden.
1747: Took part
and was wounded in the Battle of Lauffeld under General Sir James
Morduant.
1749: Promoted to
Major.
Statue of General James Wolfe outside the Royal Observatory,
Grenwich.
Wolfe was a resident of Greenwich and is buried in nearby St Alphege's
Church.
The statue was given to the nation by the Canadian Government.
(© Anthony Blagg)
1750: Promoted to
Lieutenant-Colonel of the 20th Regiment.
1758: James Wolfe
had now been promoted to the rank of Colonel. He was given the command
of a Brigade by William
Pitt the Elder and his success under General Jeffery Amherst
on an expedition to Cape Breton including the capture of the Fortress
Louisbourg (12th June) led to Pitt giving
him the command of the expedition to Quebec.
1759: (13th September)
His army scale the cliffs on the Plains of Abraham at a poorly guarded
point to surprise the French led by General Montcalm. Both leaders
were killed in the ensuing battle but Wolfe was to become forever
famous for being the victor and establishing British rule over Canada.
Wolfe had continued with his fight despite being twice wounded.
Stained Glass window in St Alphege's Church, Greenwich
commemorating General Wolfe
(© Anthony Blagg)
Marriage:
Never married.
Places of Interest:
AVON:
Stayed with his parents in No 5 Trim Street when
in England.
LANCASHIRE:
Fusiliers Museum, Wellington Barracks, Bolton
Road, Bury.
LONDON:
McCartney's House, Croom's Hil,l Greenwich.
Statue overlooks Greenwich Park from the Royal Greenwich Observatory.
St Alphege's Church, Greenwich has memorials.
Memorial, Westminster Abbey.
Plaque, painting and church records commemorating the death
of General Wolfe
in St Alphege's Church, Greenwich
(© Anthony Blagg)
KENT:
Birthplace, Quebec House, Westerham.
Date and Place of Death:
13th September 1759, Quebec, Canada.
Age at Death:
32.
Site of Grave:
St. Alphege’s Church, Greenwich, London.
St Alphege's Church, Greenwich where Wolfe is buried
(© Anthony Blagg)
