1746 in Canada

Template:Short description Template:More citations needed Template:Year in Canada Template:History of Canada Events from the year 1746 in Canada.

Incumbents

• French Monarch: Louis XV<ref>Guéganic (2008), p. 13.</ref>
• British and Irish Monarch: George II<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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Governors

• Governor General of New France: Charles de la Boische, Marquis de Beauharnois
• Colonial Governor of Louisiana: Pierre de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnial
• Governor of Nova Scotia: Paul Mascarene
• Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland: James Douglas

Events

• Typhoid fever epidemic breaks out among the Micmac of Nova Scotia.
• August 30: Duc d'Anville Expedition, led by a French aristocrat, arrives at Chebucto (now Halifax Harbour) with 13,000 men in 70 ships. His orders from the King of France: Expel the British from Nova Scotia, then burn Boston and sack New England. Disease and dissension within the command structure defeats d'Anville's force, which despite its formidable strength has no discernible effect on the course of events in North America.
• October: Fortress Louisbourg and l'Ile-Royale are returned to France by the Treaty of Aix-La-Chapelle.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Jacques-Pierre de Taffanel de la Jonquière, Marquis de la Jonquière was appointed governor general of New France on March 1, 1746, (b April 18, 1685 – d March 17, 1752)

Historical documents

Kayakers in Hudson Strait paddle out (calling "Chima") to barter with ships searching for Northwest Passage (detailed description)<ref>"In the afternoon it fell stark calm" (July 10, 1746), An Account of a Voyage for the Discovery of a North-West Passage[...]; Vol. I (1748), pgs. 24-33. Access 20 October 2021</ref>

On Northwest Passage expedition, Indigenous harpoon (but not its sealskin bladder) found in floating whale carcass<ref>"From the Harpoon which was in the Whale" (August 4, 1746), An Account of a Voyage for the Discovery of a North-West Passage[...]; Vol. I (1748), pg. 79. Access 20 October 2021</ref>

"The Effect of Passion" - Ships seeking winter quarters on Northwest Passage expedition are mistaken for French warships at York Factory<ref>"The Pinnaces lay upon the Spot where the Ships were to anchor" (August 26, 1746), An Account of a Voyage for the Discovery of a North-West Passage[...]; Vol. I (1748), pgs. 114-16. (York Factory governor gives expedition ships unfriendly reception) Access 20 October 2021</ref>

"French by kind offices and a liberality in dealing" have drawn Indigenous people away from Hudson's Bay Company's influence on Nelson River<ref>Joseph Robson, "The linguists informed me" An Account of Six Years Residence in Hudson's Bay[....] (1752), pg. 63. Accessed 26 October 2021</ref>

Summary of King George's War events in Nova Scotia and New York, including disastrous run of bad luck for French naval forces<ref>"In August 1746" Memoirs of the Principal Transactions of the Last War between the English and French in North America (1757), pgs. 78-87. Accessed 22 October 2021</ref>

Nova Scotia Council suspects French force is near after communications with Minas are cut and French warships appear at Chebucto<ref>Council meeting (June 30, 1746), Nova Scotia Archives; Minutes of H.M. Council, 1736-1749, pg. 86. (See eyewitness reports of French warships, and Massachusetts governor's intelligence of large force of "Canadians and Indians" at Minas) Accessed 26 October 2021</ref>

Fierce storm at Annapolis Royal that blows down barns, roofs etc. also drives privateer Shirley onto rocks, but masts are cut down and crew saved<ref>Council meeting (September 10, 1746), Nova Scotia Archives; Minutes of H.M. Council, 1736-1749, pg. 87. Accessed 26 October 2021</ref>

Council president Paul Mascarene orders Acadian deputies to get locals to supply extra firewood for 300 Massachusetts troops expected<ref>Council meeting (September 22, 1746), Nova Scotia Archives; Minutes of H.M. Council, 1736-1749, pgs. 88, 89. Accessed 26 October 2021</ref>

After French retreat from Annapolis, deputies are asked how they were treated and told that failed French naval strike could not be repeated<ref>Council meeting (October 27, 1746), Nova Scotia Archives; Minutes of H.M. Council, 1736-1749, pgs. 91-2. Accessed 26 October 2021</ref>

With plans for New England militia to rout Canadians from Minas, Council lists punishments for Acadians there who in any way helped enemy<ref>Council meeting (October 27, 1746), Nova Scotia Archives; Minutes of H.M. Council, 1736-1749, pgs. 92-3. Accessed 26 October 2021</ref>

As New York governor seeks war treaty with Six Nations, he ponders loyalty of Kanien’kéhà:ka, Oneida and Cayuga (Note: killing described)<ref>Cadwallader Colden, Background to treaty (July 1746), The History of the Five Indian Nations of Canada[...];Vol. II (Third edition, 1755), pgs. 118-25, 28-9. Accessed 25 October 2021</ref>

Kanien’kéhà:ka split over joining British in war with French (urged by William Johnson) or staying neutral (as advised by French)<ref>Cadwallader Colden, "While the Interpreter" The History of the Five Indian Nations of Canada[...];Vol. II (Third edition, 1755), pgs. 126-8. Accessed 25 October 2021</ref>

Proposed treaty reference to folly of defeated Scots who were swayed by French is rejected by Six Nations sachems as distracting<ref>Cadwallader Colden, "After the principal Sachims"The History of the Five Indian Nations of Canada[...];Vol. II (Third edition, 1755), pgs. 129-30. Accessed 25 October 2021</ref>

At treaty talks, New Yorkers call on Six Nations to honour their promise to attack murderous French, and with British to invade Canada<ref>Cadwallader Colden, "Brethren" (August 19, 1746), The History of the Five Indian Nations of Canada[...];Vol. II (Third edition, 1755), pgs. 132-7. (Mississaugas join Six Nations in agreeing to war) Accessed 25 October 2021</ref>

His Kahnawake allies refuse New France governor's order to threaten Six Nations, and ask SN not to join British to attack them<ref>Cadwallader Colden, "When the Six Nations" The History of the Five Indian Nations of Canada[...];Vol. II (Third edition, 1755), pgs. 154-6. Accessed 25 October 2021</ref>

Conquest had probably not been a goal of aborted 1746 expedition to Canada, but "misunderstanding" led to failure to destroy Crown Point fort<ref>"How the late expedition" State of the British and French Colonies in North America[....] (1755), pg. 36. Accessed 25 October 2021</ref>

"Krick Indians" near York Factory and their appearance, character, habits, materials (and wonderment at how much Europeans walk around)<ref>"The Indians who inhabit the South-West Part of Hudson's Bay" An Account of a Voyage for the Discovery of a North-West Passage[...]; Vol. I (1748), pgs. 182-7 ff. (See for example jewelry and marriage) Access 21 October 2021</ref>

Detailed description of log house residence, "log tents" and brick stoves built for over-wintering ships' crews at York Factory<ref>Building a house (Fall 1746), An Account of a Voyage for the Discovery of a North-West Passage[...]; Vol. I (1748), pgs. 133-37. (See also design of beaver dams) Access 21 October 2021</ref>