Halifax as an element of seapower, 1749-1766

Abstract

Not until the last years of the War of Austrian Succession was the strategic significance of North America appreciated by the Administration under the Duke of Newcastle. In the Introduction to this thesis an attempt is made to show how the importance of Nova Scotia rose as the English turned to a maritime strategy in the war against the Bourbon Powers.

2. The founding of Halifax in 1749 was directly related to the increased importance of Nova Scotia in official eyes. The concept which was drawn up by the planners was ambitious and could not be realized because of deliberate interference by French interests -- Chapter One describes the change from a plan of peaceful colonization to one of military occupation.

3. Chapter Two analyses the part played by naval and provincial armed vessels from 1749 until the capture of Fort Beausejour in 1755.

4. Chapters Three and Four examine the part played by Halifax in supporting Naval Operations in North America during the Seven Years War. The first part of the North American War was defensive in nature, designed to contain the French. In 1757 the "Grand Enterprise" was set on foot, and much depended on the effective use of Halifax as a maritime base. Much of the success of Halifax in this role demanded upon the vigorous naval offensive prosecuted in the Eastern Atlantic by Boscawen and Hawks.

5. After the conquest of Canada Halifax was maintained as an important naval base. The dockyard was completed, and accurate surveys of the Nova Scotian coast were begun. In the first few years after the Peace of Paris in 1763 the existence of a dockyard port in North America permitted the logical use of sea power to protect British mercantile interests against smuggling. Chapter Five describes the measures taken at Halifax between 1760 and 1766, and examines the failures which were experiences in attempting to enforce the navigation laws and the Stamp Act.

6. In the Conclusions to this thesis an assessment of the contribution of seapower to the founding and survival of Halifax is made; and on the other hand an attempt is made to estimate the nature of Halifax's contribution to British sea power from 1749 to 1766.