The Global Seven Years War 1754-1763: Britain and France in a Great Power Contest (Modern Wars In Perspective)

The Seven Years War was a global contest between the two superpowers of eighteenth century Europe, France and Britain. Winston Churchill called it "the first World War." Neither side could afford to lose advantage in any part of the world, and the decisive battles of the war ranged from Fort Duquesne in what is now Pittsburgh to Minorca in the Mediterranean, from Bengal to Queegrave;bec. By its end British power in North America and India had been consolidated and the foundations of Empire laid, yet at the time both sides saw it primarily as a struggle for security, power and influence within Europe. In this eagerly awaited study, Daniel Baugh, the world's leading authority on eighteenth century maritime history looks at the war as it unfolded from the failure of Anglo-French negotiations over the Ohio territories in 1784 through the official declaration of war in 1756 to the treaty of Paris which formally ended hostilities between England and France in 1763. At each stage he examines the processes of decision-making on each side for what they can show us about the capabilities and efficiency of the two national governments and looks at what was involved not just in the military engagements themselves but in the complexities of sustaining campaigns so far from home. With its panoramic scope and use of telling detail this definitive account will be essential reading for anyone with an interest in military history or the history of eighteenth century Europe. Contents List of maps Preface and acknowledgements 1 Introduction North America’s emerging importance Canada’s utility for France A global contest Geography and policy 2 Statesmen and regimes The Duke of Newcastle The Earl of Hardwicke William Pitt The duc de Choiseul 3 Origins: the contested regions, 1748–54 Acadia and Nova Scotia The New York frontier Ohio: the French predicament Ohio: the French solution Virginia responds A contest in India: Dupleix’s project 4 Risking war, 1754–55 Unreadiness of the British colonies Britain raises the stakes The futile negotiation Britain and Europe London under pressures, Versailles under illusions 5 War without declaration: North America, 1755 The French navy gambles and wins Nova Scotia Braddock and disaster Campaigns in northern New York 6 Indecision in Europe: May to December 1755 The seizure of French shipping, 1755 The Netherlands and Hanover Pitt and the Russian subsidy Paralysis at Versailles 7 French triumphs, British blunders, 1756 France’s initial war plan France and the Diplomatic Revolution Admiral Byng and the French conquest of Minorca Oswego destroyed British and American armies 8 France’s new war plan, 1756–57 Pitt attains his goal War begins on the continent France’s new war plan The trial of Admiral Byng Pitt, George II and Germany The French invasion of Germany A Hanoverian policy Louisbourg and Lake George The Rochefort expedition 9 The tide turns, 1758 The French army in Germany: defeat and disaster War in India: Bengal Achieving naval superiority Raids on the French Channel coast France in distress 10 The Atlantic and North America, 1758 Sea power and shipping West Africa Changing conditions of warfare in North America The conquest of Louisbourg Ticonderoga and Frontenac Mountains and Indians: the road to Fort Duquesne 11 The West Indies and North America, 1759 Martinique and Guadeloupe Niagara and Lake Champlain Montcalm, Vaudreuil and the defence of Canada The capture of Quebec 12 The British victory at sea, 1759 Invasion threat and blockade of Brest Lagos Bay and Quiberon Bay France defeated: the war lost 13 Britain conquers afar, disunity looms at home Choiseul’s approach to peace, 1759–60 War in India: the Coromandel Coast The conquest of Canada, 1760 Pitt and the German war The Pitt–Newcastle administration undermined 14 The chance of peace, 1761 Antecedents: Spain, Austria, Russia and Ferdinand’s winter campaign Choiseul’s two negotiations Belle-Île and Westphalia The Anglo-French negotiation Choiseul and the lost chance of peace Pitt’s resignation and the path to war with Spain 15 Peacemaking, 1762: concessions before conquests Aftermath of Pitt’s resignation The German war and the Prussian subsidy Martinique conquered The secret negotiation The defence of Portugal The capture of Havana Peace with bitterness 16 Conclusion and aftermath Fundamental causes of British military success Why peace was delayed The significance of 1762 Outcomes: peace terms, finances, navies, Spain and France Britain and North America Abbreviations and short titles Notes on sources Index The Seven Years War was a global contest between the two superpowers of eighteenth century Europe, France and Britain.  Winston Churchill called it “the first World War”.  Neither side could afford to lose advantage in any part of the world, and the decisive battles of the war ranged from Fort Duquesne in what is now Pittsburgh to Minorca in the Mediterranean, from Bengal to Quèbec.  By its end British power in North America and India had been consolidated and the foundations of Empire laid, yet at the time both sides saw it primarily as a struggle for security, power and influence within Europe. In this eagerly awaited study, Daniel Baugh, the world’s leading authority on eighteenth century maritime history looks at the war as it unfolded from the failure of Anglo-French negotiations over the Ohio territories in 1784 through the official declaration of war in 1756 to the treaty of Paris which formally ended hostilities between England and France in 1763.  At each stage he examines the processes of decision-making on each side for what they can show us about the capabilities and efficiency of the two national governments and looks at what was involved not just in the military engagements themselves but in the complexities of sustaining campaigns so far from home. With its panoramic scope and use of telling detail this definitive account will be essential reading for anyone with an interest in military history or the history of eighteenth century Europe. The Seven Years War was a global contest between the two superpowers of eighteenth century Europe, France and Britain. Winston Churchill called it “the first World War”. Neither side could afford to lose advantage in any part of the world, and the decisive battles of the war ranged from Fort Duquesne in what is now Pittsburgh to Minorca in the Mediterranean, from Bengal to Quèbec. By its end British power in North America and India had been consolidated and the foundations of Empire laid, yet at the time both sides saw it primarily as a struggle for security, power and influence within Europe. In this eagerly awaited study, Daniel Baugh, the world’s leading authority on eighteenth century maritime history looks at the war as it unfolded from the failure of Anglo-French negotiations over the Ohio territories in 1784 through the official declaration of war in 1756 to the treaty of Paris which formally ended hostilities between England and France in 1763. At each stage he examines the processes of decision-making on each side for what they can show us about the capabilities and efficiency of the two national governments and looks at what was involved not just in the military engagements themselves but in the complexities of sustaining campaigns so far from home. With its panoramic scope and use of telling detail this definitive account will be essential reading for anyone with an interest in military history or the history of eighteenth century Europe. The Seven Years War was a global contest between the two superpowers of eighteenth century Europe: France and Britain. Winston Churchill called it the 'first World War'. Neither side could afford to lose advantage in any part of the world, and the decisive battles of the war ranged from Fort Duquesne in what is now Pittsburgh to Minorca in the Mediterranean, from Bengal to Quèbec. By the war's end, British power in North America and India had been consolidated and the foundations of the Empire laid, yet at the time both sides saw it primarily as a struggle for security, power and influence within European powers. -- back cover Daniel Baugh, a leading authority on 18th century maritime history looks at the Seven Years War as it unfolded - from the failure of Anglo-French negotiations over the Ohio territories in 1784 through the official declaration of war in 1756 to the treaty of Paris which formally ended hostilities between England and France in 1763