WOLFE, James, English general: b erharn, Kent, 2 Jan. 1727; d. Quebec, Canada, 13 Sept. 1759. He was He at Westerharn and. Greenwich, and in 1741 received an en sign's commission in a foot regiment. In 1743 he took part in the famous battle of Dettingen; in 1744 obtained his captaincy; and in 1745-46 was present at the battles of Falkirk and Cullo den. In 1747 he was wounded, though not seriously, at the battle of Lawfeldt, and from 1749 to 1757 was engaged in garrison duty in Scotland'and England. In the mismanaged ex pedition against Rochefort (1757) Wolfe acted as quartermaster-general and the only creditable movement in the affair was a night reconnois sance conducted by him which penetrated two miles into the enemy's country. His recom mendation in favor of an immediate attack and his offer to take the place with 500 men and three ships were unheeded; but Pitt, becoming acquainted with the facts of the case, kept the young officer in view for some future enter prise. This occurred in the following year. when Wolfe was ordered to accompany the expedition under Amherst to Cape Breton, with the rank of brigadier-general. A brilliant suc cess was obtained in the capture of the strong fortress of Louisburg, after a seven weeks' siege, and he became popularly known as the °Hero of Louisburg.' Pitt was then planning the overthrow of the French dominion in North America by the capture of their chief strong hold, Quebec, and with the instinct of genius singled out Wolfe as the most promising young officer in the army, to command the expedition notwithstanding many older officers might h) virtue of seniority have claimed the sor.
Wolfe was accordingly created a major-general. and in 26 June 1759 landed his forces on the Isle of Orleans, opposite Quebec. The system of defense adopted by his adversary. Mont calm, was such as to offer no point of ad vantage. The season during which operations could be continued rapidly advanced, but at last having dropped down the river and waled the precipitous cliffs known as the Heights of Abraham at a point insufficiently guarded. at daybreak of 13 September, Wolfe found himself on the Plains of Abraham, where, his supplies thus cut off, Montcahn bad no choice but to give battle. After a short struggle the French were driven from the field in complete rout; Montcalm was one of the 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, till thrice wounded, be was carried su the rear. He lived to hear the eq. 'TheY run; see how they run!' and expired with the wore. •Now God be praised. I will die in peace• His body was taken to England buried m Greenwich Church, and a moment was erected to him in Westminster Abbey. Consult Allison, 'Memoir of Wolfe' (in 'Twelve Eng lish Soldiers Series') •, Bradley, 'Wolfe' (in 'English Men of Action Series,' 1895); tasgrain, H. R., 'Wolfe and Montcalm' (Toronto 1905); Parkman, F., 'Montcalm and %Voile' (in 'France and England in North America,' 2 vols., Boston 1898); Willson, B., The Life and Letters of James Wolfe' (Lon don 1909); Wright, R., 'The Life of Major General Wolfe' (ib. 1864).