Battles & Campaigns · 1759
Battle of Fort Niagara
Old Fort Niagara, Youngstown, New York, USA
What happened
The British landed out of sight of the fort and began a siege. Prideaux was killed in an accident with one of his own guns, and Johnson took command. On 24 July a French relief force was defeated at La Belle-Famille, two miles away, and Pouchot surrendered two days later.
Why it matters
The siege was part of a plan to end French control of the Great Lakes and the Ohio Valley. It opened a western route into French Canada while James Wolfe attacked Quebec from the east.
What came next
The French abandoned other frontier forts. Quebec fell in September 1759 and Montreal in September 1760.
Did you know?
Johnson was not a regular army officer, but a royal commission for his work with the Iroquois let him keep command.
Timeline
- 6 Jul 1759British force arrives at Fort Niagara.
- 24 Jul 1759French relief force defeated at La Belle-Famille.
- 26 Jul 1759Pouchot surrenders the fort.
- Sep 1759Quebec falls to Wolfe's army.
- Sep 1760Montreal falls.