Prelude to War

Great Britain's Role

In the Seven Years' War 1756 to 1763

This Naval History continues on from: "Mutiny"

Britain emerged from the seven years of war as the world's leading colonial power having gained a number of new territories at the Treaty of Paris in 1763 and established itself as the pre-eminent naval power at sea.

The war started poorly for Britain, suffering several defeats to France in North America during 1754-55 and losing Minorca in 1756. The same year Britain's major ally Austria switched sides with France.

Britain was hastily forced to conclude a new alliance with Frederick the Great's Prussia. For the next seven years these two nations were ranged against a growing number of enemy powers led by France.

The following year they captured Havana and Manila, the western and eastern capitals of the Spanish Empire and repulsed a Spanish invasion of Portugal.

Britain also directed the military strategy of its various colonies around the world including British America. In India British possessions were administered by the East India Company.

Mutiny

Another War Was Imminent

The Austrian Succession had ended in 1748 with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, following a bloody war which had left large parts of Central Europe devastated.

But by the early 1750s many saw another major war as imminent, and Austria was preparing its forces for an attempt to retake Silesia from Prussia.

One of the major concerns for the British government of the era was colonial expansion. During the eighteenth-century the British colonies in North America had become more populous and powerful - and were agitating to expand westwards into the American interior.

The territory most prized by the new settlers was the Ohio Country, which was also claimed by France. As well as having economic potential, it was considered strategically key.

French control of that territory would block British expansion westwards and eventually French territory would surround the British colonies, pinning them against the coast.

Initial land Skirmishes

The Ohio country located between Britain's Thirteen Colonies and France's New Colonies saw France and Britain clash. In 1753 the French sent an expedition south from Montreal that began constructing forts in the upper reaches of the Ohio River.

In 1754 the Province of Virginia was the Virginia Regiment led by George Washington, in the area to assist in the construction of a British fort at present-day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but the larger French force had driven away a smaller British advance team and built Fort Duquesne.

Washington and some native allies ambushed a company of French scouts at the Battle of Jumonville Glen in late May 1754. In the skirmish the French envoy Joseph Coulon de Villiers de Jumonville was left dead, leading to a diplomatic incident.

The French responded in force from Fort Duquesne, and in July Washington was forced to surrender at the Battle of Fort Necessity. Despite the conflict between them, the two nations were not yet formally at war.

In May 1755 Braddock's column blundered into an enemy force composed of French and Native Americans at the Battle of the Monongahela near Fort Duquesne.

After several hours fighting the British were defeated and forced to retreat with Braddock dying a few days later of his wounds. The remainder of his force returned to Philadelphia and took up quarters intending no further action that year.

The French remained in control of the Ohio Country.

In the Maritime Theatre 1755

The British were successful in the Battle of Fort Beausejour, and their expedition to remove the French military from Acadia.

To neutralize the military threat of the Acadians and thus stop the vital supply lines they maintained for Louisbourg, in the wake of the battle, the British began the Great Expulsion with the "Bay of Fundy" Campaign.

Over the course of the war, the British removed 12,000 French- speakers. The expeditions from Albany both failed to reach their objectives, although William Johnson's expedition established Fort William Henry and held off a French attempt on Fort Edward in the Battle of Lake George.

When news of the Braddock disaster reached Britain it caused a massive public outcry over the government's poor military preparation.

The government appointed William Shirley as the new Commander-in-Chief in North America, and planned an equally ambitious series of operations for the following year.

Further Struggles on Land in North America

Britain and France continued to clash with increasingly large forces. Even though the inhabitants of the British colonies hugely outnumbered those of New France, they were unable to exert this advantage partly due to a successful campaign by the French to recruit Native American allies who raided the unprotected frontier of the Thirteen Colonies.

The British raised regiments of local militia and shipped in more regular forces from Britain and Ireland. Despite these increased forces Britain continued to fare badly in the battle for control of the Ohio Country and the nearby Great Lakes.

None of their campaigns was successful in 1756. After losing the Battle of Fort Oswego, not only that fort, but others in the Mohawk River valley were abandoned.

This was followed in 1757 by the fall of Fort William Henry and the Indian atrocities that followed. News of this disaster sent a fresh wave of panic around the British colonies, and the entire militia of New England was mobilised overnight.

In the Maritime Theatre

A raid was organized on Lunenburg, Nova Scotia and several on the Chignecto. The British attempt to take Louisbourg in 1757 failed due to bad weather and poor planning.

The following year, in part because of the expulsion of the Acadians interruping the supply lines, the Siege of Louisbourg 1758, was successful, making possible an advance on Quebec.

Immediately after the fall of Louisbourg the expulsion of the Acadians continued with the removal of Acadians in the St. John River Campaign, the Petitcodiac River Campaign, the Isle Saint-Jean Campaign, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence Campaign 1758.

The War in North America had reached a stalemate, with France broadly holding the territorial advantage. It held possession of the disputed Ohio territory but lacked the strength to launch an attack on the more populous British coastal colonies.

War in Europe

Britain had been allied to Austria since 1731, and the co-operation between the two states had peaked during the War of the Austrian Succession. Since then the relationship had weakened. Prussia was captured from Austria during the war and Austria wanted British help to recover it.

Sensing that it would not be forthcoming, the Austrians approached their historical enemies France and made a defensive treaty with them - thereby dissolving the twenty five year Anglo-Austrian Alliance.

Alarmed by the sudden switch in the European Balance of Power the British made a similar agreement with Prussia at the Westminster Convention.

Frederick the Great had a number of supporters in London, including William Pitt who welcomed the rapprochement between Britain and Prussia.

The Dutch Republic, a long-standing ally of Britain, declared their neutrality in the wake of the Westminster Convention and had no active participation in the coming conflict.

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Fall of Minorca

As the war in Europe appeared to become more inevitable, the Newcastle government took steps to try to take the initiative – and make sure that the strategic island of Minorca was secured before it fell into French hands.

A relief expedition was dispatched under Admiral John Byng to save it. However, once he arrived in the Mediterranean Byng found an equally-sized French fleet and a 15,000-strong army besieging the fortress. After fighting an indecisive battle he withdrew to Gibraltar, letting Minorca fall.

Byng was recalled to Britain and court-martialled. There was violent public outrage about the loss of Minorca, mostly directed against Newcastle. He tried to deflect the blame by emphasising the alleged cowardice of Byng. After being tried by his peers, Admiral John Byng, was eventually executed by firing squad for “not doing his utmost“.

The Continuation of this Naval History will be: "John Byng"

Prelude to War John Byng

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