Louis Joseph Montcalm was born in France in 1712. At the age of fifteen he joined the French Army and in 1746 he was seriously wounded at the Battle of Piacenza.

In 1754 war broke out between the French and English settlers in North America. General Montcalm was given command of the French troops and in 1756 captured Oswego and Fort William Henry. Montcalm successfully defended Ticonderoga but lost Louisburg and Fort Duquesne in 1758.

Montcalm now moved his forces to Canada and in 1759 used 16,000 troops to defend Quebec. General James Wolfe and the English Army drove the French from the city. Montcalm tried in vain to rally his force but was killed in the process.