HistoryData
war1751

1751 Massacre of British-Canadians during Father Le Loutre's War

May 13, 1751

One of seven Mi'kmaq and Acadian raids on Dartmouth during Father Le Loutre's War, this attack killed twenty British villagers and destroyed the town.

Quick Facts

Year
1751
Category
war

Key Facts

Date
May 13, 1751
British villagers killed
20
Raid number in series
One of seven raids on Dartmouth
Attacking force origin
Chignecto, Nova Scotia
Defending unit
45th Regiment of Foot and Clapham's Rangers

By the Numbers

131,751
Date
20
British villagers killed
45
Defending unit

Location

Map of Dartmouth, CanadaMap of Dartmouth, CanadaDartmouth, Canada

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

Father Le Loutre's War set Mi'kmaq and Acadian forces against British expansion in Nova Scotia. A militia from Chignecto, composed of Mi'kmaq warriors and Acadian fighters, organized a raid under Acadian commander Joseph Broussard to strike the British settlement at Dartmouth, which had been established as part of British colonization efforts in the region.

Event

On May 13, 1751, Joseph Broussard led a Mi'kmaq and Acadian militia force from Chignecto in a raid on Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The attackers destroyed the town and killed twenty British villagers. British regulars of the 45th Regiment of Foot and William Clapham's Rangers stationed at a blockhouse on Blockhouse Hill also suffered wounded during the assault.

Consequence

The raid resulted in the destruction of Dartmouth and the deaths of twenty British colonists. It was one of seven such attacks Mi'kmaq and Acadian forces would conduct against the town during Father Le Loutre's War, demonstrating the sustained pressure placed on British settlements in Nova Scotia throughout the conflict.

Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis

Side A

1 belligerent

Mi'kmaq and Acadian militia
Key Commanders

Joseph Broussard.

Side B

1 belligerent

British colonists and regulars (45th Regiment of Foot, Clapham's Rangers)
Estimated Casualties20
Key Commanders

William Clapham.

Total Casualties (all sides)
20
Outcome
Mi'kmaq and Acadian forces destroyed Dartmouth and killed twenty British villagers; British defenders suffered wounded.

Timeline Context

Timeline around 17511751174817491750175217531754On May 21, 1751, a magnitude 7.0–7.4 earthquake struck near Takada in present-day Jōetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, causing significant damage and resulting in approximately 2,100 fatalitiesAddition to the border treaty of 1751 between Sweden (including Finland) and Norway (Denmark-Norway).1751 battle during the Second Carnatic Warraid-on-dartmouth-1751