James Wolfe was born on Jan 2nd 1727 in Westerham, Kent - the elder son of serving Officer. At the age of 14 he was appointed second-lieutenant in his father's regiment of Marines. He transferred to the 12th Foot and by age 16 was adjutant of his battalion. He took part in his first battle (Dettingen) where he had a horse shot from under him.

Two years later he was a brigade major and returned home to take part in the Jacobite uprising and was ADC to General Hawley at Falkirk & Culloden. His spectacular rise thorough the ranks continued - substantive major (20th Foot) at age 22, lieutenant colonel age 23, full colonel age 30, brigadier age 31. One year later he was acting major general and assigned to take Quebec from the French.

The story of how he led his troops and climbed the Heights of Abraham to take the French by surprise is well-known. As is the fact that both he and the Marquis de Montcalm (the French commander) lost their lives in the ensuing battle on September 13th. Wolfe's body was carried home on the Royal William and he was laid to rest beside his father (who had died a few months earlier) in St Alphege's Church,Greenwich on November 20th 1759.

The Ft Duquesne bust is cast in 3 parts: Pedestal/torso/head, Tricorn & queue. The pedestal features the years of Wolfe's birth & death and an accurate facsimile of his signature.

Major General James Wolfe
Quebec 1759