King George's War

King George's War (1744-1748) was the North American part of the War of the Austrian Succession. It is especially important to the history of Canada, although parts certainly took place in the American colonies.

In the Great Lakes region

Seeking better trade deals, group of Wyandot Indians led by Chief Nicolas moved and established a settlement (1738) on the Sandusky Bay in northern Ohio. In 1745, Nicolas allowed the British to build a fort there. After entreaties from the Iroquois to attack the French at Detroit and get involved in the larger conflict between Britain and France, the Huron attacked a French trading party in June 1747 killing all five traders. This ambush alerted the French commandant at Detroit of the shifting Wyandot alliances and he began preparing the fort. The Wyandot still living in Michigan quickly disavowed any knowledge of or sympathy with Chief Nicolas.

Trouble among the Objiwa at Michilimackinac quickly ended when the French sent reinforcements.

Random violence in Ohio continued against the French through the remainder of 1747. By the winter, realizing that the rest of his people had abandoned him, Chief Nicolas led his band southward further into Ohio. The British also abandoned the fort at Sandusky.