17451746

The period of 1745-1746 was marked by significant events across Europe and its colonial territories. In Great Britain, the second Jacobite rising, also known as the "Forty-Five," occurred. Charles Edward Stuart, "Bonnie Prince Charlie," landed in Scotland with the aim of regaining the throne for his father, James Stuart. His forces achieved an early victory at the Battle of Prestonpans in September 1745, and subsequently advanced into England. However, the rebellion was ultimately crushed by government forces under the Duke of Cumberland at the decisive Battle of Culloden in April 1746. This marked the end of serious Jacobite attempts to restore the Stuart monarchy.

Across the Atlantic, the War of the Austrian Succession continued. In North America, this conflict manifested as King George's War. A notable event was the Siege of Louisbourg in 1745, where a force of colonial militia from Massachusetts, with British naval support, captured the French fortress on Cape Breton Island. This victory was a significant blow to French influence in the region. The war officially concluded in 1748 with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, which saw the return of Louisbourg to France in exchange for territories in Europe, a decision that proved controversial in the American colonies. The events of 1745-1746 thus shaped the political and military landscape in both Europe and its overseas possessions.