John Henry Bastide
British army officer and military engineer
1700 CE to 1770 CE
Lieutenant-General John Henry Bastide (c. 1700 – 1770) is a British army officer and military engineer who plays a significant role in the early history of Nova Scotia.
He is the chief engineer at both of the sieges of Louisbourg (1745 and 1758) and the siege of Minorca (1756).
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The French and Indian War has gone very poorly for the British, whose military has met few of its objectives.
William Pitt has gained full control of the direction of British military efforts in the Seven Years' War in the wake of a string of French victories in 1757 in North America, coupled with military setbacks in Europe.
Embarking on a strategy that emphasizes defense in Europe, where France is strong, and offense in North America, where France is weak, he resolves to attack New France (the colonial holdings of France in North America) in three strategic campaigns.
Large-scale campaigns are planned to capture Fort Duquesne on the Pennsylvania frontier and the fortress at Louisbourg (on Île-Royale, now known as Cape Breton Island).
The third campaign, assigned to General James Abercrombie, is to launch an attack against Canada through the Champlain Valley.
William Pitt has gained full control of the direction of British military efforts in the Seven Years' War in the wake of a string of French victories in 1757 in North America, coupled with military setbacks in Europe.
Embarking on a strategy that emphasizes defense in Europe, where France is strong, and offense in North America, where France is weak, he resolves to attack New France (the colonial holdings of France in North America) in three strategic campaigns.
Large-scale campaigns are planned to capture Fort Duquesne on the Pennsylvania frontier and the fortress at Louisbourg (on Île-Royale, now known as Cape Breton Island).
The third campaign, assigned to General James Abercrombie, is to launch an attack against Canada through the Champlain Valley.
The British government realizes that with the Fortress of Louisbourg under French control, there is no way that the Royal Navy can sail up the St. Lawrence River for an attack on Quebec unmolested.
After the expedition against Louisbourg in 1757 led by Lord Loudon was turned back due to a strong French naval deployment, the British under the leadership of William Pitt has resolved to try again with new commanders.
Pitt assigns the duty of capturing the fortress to Major General Jeffrey Amherst.
Amherst's brigadiers are Charles Lawrence, James Wolfe and Edward Whitmore, and command of naval operations is assigned to Admiral Edward Boscawen.
The chief engineer is John Henry Bastide, who had been present at the first siege of Louisbourg in 1745 and had been chief engineer at Fort St Philip, Minorca, in 1756 when the British had surrendered the fort and island to the French after a long siege.
After the expedition against Louisbourg in 1757 led by Lord Loudon was turned back due to a strong French naval deployment, the British under the leadership of William Pitt has resolved to try again with new commanders.
Pitt assigns the duty of capturing the fortress to Major General Jeffrey Amherst.
Amherst's brigadiers are Charles Lawrence, James Wolfe and Edward Whitmore, and command of naval operations is assigned to Admiral Edward Boscawen.
The chief engineer is John Henry Bastide, who had been present at the first siege of Louisbourg in 1745 and had been chief engineer at Fort St Philip, Minorca, in 1756 when the British had surrendered the fort and island to the French after a long siege.
The French plan to defend Louisbourg by a large naval build-up, as they had in 1757.
However, the French fleet sailing from Toulon is blockaded in Cartagena by a British force, and a relief force had been defeated at the Battle of Cartagena.
After this the French abandon their attempt to reinforce Louisbourg from the Mediterranean, meaning there will be few ships available to actively oppose the British off Louisbourg.
However, the French fleet sailing from Toulon is blockaded in Cartagena by a British force, and a relief force had been defeated at the Battle of Cartagena.
After this the French abandon their attempt to reinforce Louisbourg from the Mediterranean, meaning there will be few ships available to actively oppose the British off Louisbourg.