On 8 July 1760, British forces completed their victory at the Battle of Restigouche. The battle was fought on the Restigouche River, between what is now Quebec and New Brunswick, and formed part of the Seven Years’ War.

France had lost Quebec to British forces in 1759, but the war in Canada was not over. French commanders still hoped to support their remaining forces and recover their position. A small French naval force reached the Restigouche with supplies and reinforcements intended for New France.

The British sent ships under Captain John Byron to stop them. The French commander, François Chenard de la Giraudais, withdrew upriver and used the difficult channel, shore batteries and local support to delay the British advance.

The setting made the battle unusual. This was a naval action fought in confined river waters, not on the open sea. British ships had to work through shallows and obstructions while facing French fire from ships and shore positions.

By 8 July, the British had forced the issue. The French destroyed or scuttled ships, including vessels carrying supplies, to prevent them from being captured. The loss ended France’s last serious naval attempt to support its forces in Canada.

The battle did not end the war by itself. Montreal still had to surrender, which it did later in 1760. But Restigouche removed one of the last practical chances of French reinforcement. In 1763, the Treaty of Paris confirmed Britain’s control of Canada.