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 GENERAL JAMES WOLFE 231 chanics and laborers, during all seasons of dearth or scarcity ; but the battle-field never saw him more. His health gradually and slowly declined, and on April 21, 1736, in the seventy-fourth year of his age, he was found dead in his bed, after having been slightly indisposed the night before. GENERAL JAMES WOLFE Bv L. Drake (l 726-1 759) GENERAL Edward Wolfe, an offi- cer who distinguished himself un- der the Duke of Marlborough, was the father of James Wolfe, conqueror of Quebec. He was the eldest son of the general, and was born at Wester- ham, a small town in Kent, on No- vember 6, 1726. As liberal an edu- cation as could be acquired before the early age of fourteen, was given to the future hero. He then went with his father to Flanders to study the profession of an officer amid active warfare ; and, thus engaged, seven years soon passed. During this no- vitiate, he was not without opportu- nities of distinguishing himself; his name was on several occasions men- tioned with honor ; till at length, at the battle of Laffeldt, his courage and skilful conduct attracted the notice of his commander, the Duke of Cumberland, who, at the close of the day, thanked him in the presence of the army ; and from that time he was marked out " as an officer of extraordinary merit and promise." His merit, rather than any favor, brought Wolfe the rank of lieutenant-colo- nel when he was barely twenty-two. The battalion he commanded was soon distinguished by many and striking improvements in discipline, so that its superi- ority at exercise, and in the order of its quarters, gave sure proof of ability and temper in its young commander. " The men," it is said, " adored while they profoundly respected him ; and his officers esteemed his approbation as much as they dreaded his displeasure." Canada, with a portion of New Brunswick, and also the islands of St. John and Cape Breton, at the mouth of the St. Lawrence, were at this time possessed