Wolfe, JAMES, the conqueror of Quebec, was born at Westerham vicarage, Kent, on 2d January 1727. He came of mixed Welsh-Irish-Yorkshire ancestry, the eldest son of General Edward Wolfe (1685-1759), an officer of merit and distinction, who served under Marlborough, and the beautiful Henrietta Thompson (1704-64). With his younger brother, Edward (1728-44), he was educated at Westerham and Greenwich. From the first he was bent upon following his father's profession of arms; and, balked by illness at thirteen of a share in the unfortunate Cartagena expedition, in 1742 he received an ensign's commission in a foot regiment. In 1743 he took part in the famous battle of Dettingen, boy though he was, as adjutant of his regiment; in 1744 he obtained his captaincy; and in 1745-46 he served against the Scotch rebels, being present at the battles of Falkirk and Culloden. Again abroad on service in 1747, he was wounded, though not seriously, at the battle of Lawfeldt, and so distinguished himself that he was publicly thanked by the Duke of Cumberland. From 1749 to 1757, with occasional interruptions, such as a six months' residence in Paris, he was engaged in garrison duty in Scotland and England; his interesting correspondence with his mother shows that he had no great liking for the former country and its inhabitants. In the mismanaged expedition against Rochefort (1757) Wolfe acted as quartermaster-general. The total failure of the operations brought disgrace to nearly all concerned; but it became known that had Wolfe's counsels been followed the result would almost certainly have been different. Pitt's attention was now first decisively drawn to him as an officer of whom great things might be expected; and in 1758, with the full rank of colonel, he was appointed to the command of a brigade in the expedition against Cape Breton under General Amherst. A brilliant success was obtained in the capture of the strong fortress of Louisburg (q.v.) after a seven weeks' siege; that it was mainly due to Wolfe's skill, boldness, and activity was clearly understood, and he became popularly known as the 'Hero of Louisburg.' Pitt was now organising his grand scheme for expelling the French from Canada; he 'sought for merit wherever it was to be found;' and the expedition which had for its object the capture of Quebec, the enemy's capital, he confided to Wolfe's command, allowing him, as far as possible, a carte blanche in the choice of his subordinate officers. Advanced to the rank of major-general, and commanding 9000 men, Wolfe sailed from England on 17th February 1759, and on 26th June landed his forces on the Isle of Orleans, opposite Quebec. The attack, to which he had looked forward as 'a very nice operation,' proved one of stupendous, indeed nearly hopeless difficulty. The system of defence adopted by his adversary, the skilful and wary Montcalm (q.v.), was such as to offer no point of advantage. In all his attempts, though seconded most ably by Admiral Saunders, who commanded the fleet, Wolfe found himself completely foiled. The season wore fast away during which operations could be continued; but at last, having dropped down the river, and sealed the cliffs at a point insufficiently guarded—a feat of such frightful risk as in war has scarcely a parallel—at the day-dawn of 13th September Wolfe found himself on the Plains of Abraham, where, his supplies thus cut off, Montcalm had no choice but to give battle. The forces were probably equal, between four and five thousand men; but Wolfe had no doubt of victory, and the result justified his confidence. After a short struggle the French were driven from the field in complete rout; Montcalm was one of 500 killed; the capitulation of Quebec followed five days after; and its fall decided the fate of Canada. Wolfe died in the hour of victory. In person he led the right, until, thrice wounded, he was carried to the rear. He lived to hear the cry, 'They run! see how they run!' and expired with the words, 'Now God be praised, I will die in peace.' His body was brought home and buried in Greenwich church, and a monument was erected to him in Westminster Abbey. He was only thirty-two; his health had always been bad, and yet he stands among the first half-dozen of our English generals.
See his Life by Robert Wright (1864); Montcalm and Wolfe by Parkman (1885); the Life by Bradley (1895).