Wolfe, James, 1727-1759 : James Wolfe, born 2 January 1727 at Westerham, Kent, England, the son of Lieutenant-General Edward Wolfe and Henrietta Thompson, received his early education in schools at Westerham and Greenwich. In 1741 he received his first military appointment as a second lieutenant in the 1st Regiment of Marines, then commanded by his father. In 1742 he took up a commission as ensign in the 12th Regiment of the British Army and soon saw active service in the Low Countries, Germany and Scotland, notably at the battles of Dettingen, Falkirk and Culloden. Having risen to the rank of Captain and transferred to the 4th Regiment, he became aide-de-camp to general Henry Hawley. By 1748 he had attained the rank of Major and served as acting Lieutenant-Colonel of the 20th Regiment, then stationed in Scotland. There he studied Latin and mathmatics while the regiment engaged in road-building. He visited Ireland and France in 1752, then moved with the regiment to the sought of England. Confirmed as Lieutenant Colonel in 1750 and promoted Colonel (his highest substantive rank) in 1757, he saw active service in 1757 as Quarter-Master General for the expedition against Rochefort. He then took command of the 67th Regiment on its creation out of the second battalion of the 20th Regiment.
In January 1858 when general Jeffery Amherst took command of the expedition against Louisbourg, Wolfe received the local rank of Brigadier in America. He took an active role leading troops during the siege and laying waste neighboring regions. Returning to England that autumn, he soon received a commission as commander-in-chief for the expedition against Quebec, with local rank of Brigadier General in North America under Amherst. Relations with his three brigadiers and other subordinate commanders deteriorated through the summer, probably exacerbated by Wolfe's ill health. On 13 September 1759, he successfully landed his forces above Quebec, met and defeated the French army in battle on the Plains of Abraham. Following Wolfe's death during the battle, George Townshend took command of the British forces and negotiated the capitulation, signed 18 September. Wolfe's body was returned to England, to be buried next to his father who had died in March 1759.
