Siege of Louisbourg

The siege of Louisbourg was a major British victory that ended French domination of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and opened the way to the conquest of Canada. From 8 June to 26 July 1758, Amherst besieged Chevalier de Drucour's fortress (~3,500 men) with ~14,000 troops and a fleet of 22 ships under Boscawen—the first major French defeat in North America during the Seven Years' War.

This battle was part of the British campaign to control Canada's maritime approaches and weaken the French presence in North America. Louisbourg, on Cape Breton Island, had guarded the entrance to the Gulf of St. Lawrence since 1713. In 1758, the superior Royal Navy blocked French reinforcements while the British landed on 8 June at Anse de la Cormorandière under James Wolfe.

The British used a siege combining intensive bombardment, naval blockade, and coordinated land attacks to force the fortress to surrender. After Green Hill was taken on 26 June, British batteries dominated the town; the burning of French ships on 21–22 July and a night raid on 25 July completed the fleet's destruction. Drucour negotiated capitulation on very harsh terms imposed by Amherst.

The fall of Louisbourg considerably weakened French capabilities in America and marked a decisive turning point in the Seven Years' War. The garrison surrendered on 27 July; eleven French ships were lost. The stronghold gave the British a base to ascend the St. Lawrence toward Quebec and foreshadowed the gradual fall of New France.