1759 : The Year Britain Became Master of the World

If not for the events of 1759, the entire history of the world would have been different. Called the "Year of Victories," 1759 was the fourth year of the Seven Years, or the French-and-Indian War and defeat of the French not only paved the way for the global hegemony of the English language but also made the emergence of the United States possible. Guiding us through England's conquests (and often extremely narrow victories) in India, North America, and the Caribbean, Frank McLynn (Wagons West) controversially suggests that the birth of the great British Empire was more a result of luck than of rigorous planning. Along with stirring depictions of the two greatest battles of 1759, Quebec and Quiberon, McLynn includes anecdotes of the intellectual and cultural leaders of the day—Swedenborg, Hume, Voltaire—and interweaves primary sources, ranging from material in the Vatican archives to oral histories of Native Americans, in a brilliant chronicle of a pivotal year in world history.

This "splendidly narrated" chronicle of the British Empire's ascent during the French and Indian War " will enthrall all lovers of history told well" ( Publishers Weekly, starred review). If not for the events of 1759, the history of the modern world would have been drastically different. Called the "Year of Victories, " 1759 was the fourth year in the Seven Years War (also known as the French and Indian War). Marshalling an impressive wealth of historical research into a sweeping narrative, award-winning historian McLynn reveals how the French defeat of 1759 paved the way for the British Empire and the dominance of the English language. McLynn interweaves numerous primary sources, from the Vatican's archives to Native American oral histories. Each chapter begins with an examination of a significant cultural milestone from the fateful year in question, providing essential human context for this tale of nations. With provocative insight and rigorous argument, McLynn concludes that the birth of the British Empire was a consequence more of luck than of rigorous planning. "McLynn's feisty and highly personal take on the pivot point of the Seven Years War adds fresh perspectives to the old story." — The Times Literary Supplement "Magnificent." — Sunday Express

"In the two greatest battles of 1759 - Quebec and Quiberon - Britain effectively beat France for global supremacy. Near Quebec, on the Plains of Abraham, General Wolfe engaged in a daring attack but died at the moment of victory. Horace Walpole said, "The taking of Quebec was stranger than fiction and a mythic event that outstripped anything that had come down from the ancient legends of Greece and Rome."" "On the seas, in a desperate gamble, Admiral Hawke defeated the French at the Bay of Quiberon. The Royal Navy was the pivot of Prime Minister William Pitt's global strategy. Sea power had enabled the British to win the struggle for the West Indies and to defeat the French in North America, securing Canada for the Empire." "Rife with chilling, fantastic battles, 1759 is the unfolding story of the year, month by month, stressing the global dimension. McLynn uses primary sources, ranging from material in the Vatican archives to oral histories of Native Americans."--Jacket "History would have been different if not for the events of 1759. It was the fourth year of the Seven Years', or the French-and-Indian, War, and crucial victories against the French in the first truly global conflict laid the foundations of British supremacy throughout the world for the next hundred years. The defeat of the French not only paved the way for the global hegemony of the English language but also made the emergence of the United States possible. Guiding us through England's often extremely narrow victories in India, North America, and the Caribbean, McLynn controversially suggests that the birth of the British Empire was more a result of luck than of rigorous planning. McLynn includes anecdotes of the intellectual and cultural leaders of the day--Swedenborg, Hume, Voltaire--and sources ranging from the Vatican archives to oral histories of Native Americans" --from publisher description If not for the events of 1759, the entire history of the world would have been different. Called the "Year of Victories," 1759 was the fourth year of the Seven Years, or the French-and-Indian War and defeat of the French paved the way for the global hegemony of the English language. Guiding us through England's conquests (and often extremely narrow victories), Frank McLynn (Wagons West) brilliantly interweaves primary sources, ranging from material in the Vatican archives to oral histories of Native Americans. In a stunning chronicle of a pivotal year in world history, he controversially concludes that the birth of the great British Empire was more a result of luck than of rigorous planning. If we were to judge only by the long-term impact of human beings at the height of their powers in 1759, there is a strong argument for awarding pride of historical place to John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. The struggle for New France The Bonnie Prince and the crafty minister Pitt and the West Indies Canada India Wolfe at Quebec Lagos Bay, Portugal Minden The Plains of Abraham Rogers' Rangers Quiberon Bay.