Jeffrey Amherst
General, Commander-in-Chief British North America
"We are to gain the affections of the Indians or reduce them to subjection."
Biography
The British commander who finally broke French resistance. After capturing Louisbourg, Amherst commanded the three-pronged 1760 campaign that ended with Montreal's surrender and the fall of New France. As postwar commander he notoriously suggested using smallpox-infected blankets against Native Americans during Pontiac's War.
Did you know?
His written suggestion to use smallpox-infected blankets to kill Native Americans during Pontiac's War is one of history's first documented proposals for biological warfare — the correspondence survives. Many institutions named after him have since been renamed, including Amherst College (Massachusetts), which debated the issue for years before deciding to keep the name.
Key Battles
Siege of Louisbourg
British & Colonists victoryJune 8 – July 26, 1758 · 6,000 total casualties
Opening the St. Lawrence River to British warships and troops, Louisbourg's fall made the conquest of New France possible. It made James Wolfe famous and set the stage for Quebec the following year. William Pitt's 'year of victories' strategy — funding Prussia in Europe while using naval supremacy to pick off French colonies — was working.
Life Journey
Timeline
January 29, 1717
🌅 Birth
Born in Sevenoaks, Kent, England
1731
📚 Education
Enters British Army at age 14, Sevenoaks
July 1758
⚔️ Battle
Commands capture of Louisbourg — opens St. Lawrence
September 1760
⚔️ Battle
Montreal surrenders — New France ends
August 3, 1797
✝️ Death
Dies at his estate in Sevenoaks, Kent