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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Seven Years' War
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(1756–63)
Conflict involving two separate rivalries. One was the struggle in central Europe between neighbouring Prussia and Austria, a continuation of the War of the *Austrian Succession; Britain was involved in this largely because of the need to protect *Hanover. The other was a persistent confrontation between Britain and France as colonial powers. From the start of the 18C there had been sporadic warfare between British America and French Canada, which flared up again in 1754; and from the late 1740s there were military engagements in India between the *East India Company and its French equivalent. These separate clashes, predating the official outbreak of war between Britain and France in 1756, became part of the wider conflict in which Britain sided with Prussia against France, Austria, Russia and Sweden.
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Britain took relatively little part in the European land war. Her main interest lay in winning control of the sea to avoid invasion by France, and in making territorial gains in north America. Both were achieved in 1759, which became known as the 'wonderful year'. The French fleet was severely damaged at *Quiberon Bay (Nov. 20–1) on the southern side of the Brest peninsula; and in September Quebec fell to *Wolfe. In India the French province of *Pondicherry surrendered in 1761. In the treaty of *Paris, ending the war in 1763, France ceded to Britain the mainland of north America east of the Mississippi (except New Orleans), several Caribbean islands (others were restored by Britain to France), and recent French acquisitions in India and the East Indies. This settlement left Britain well placed to become the leading colonial power.
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