Page "Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland" Paragraph 13

It was decided to despatch a large British force under the command of Edward Braddock to America to drive the French out of Ohio and occupy the lands for Britain.

Braddock's column met with disaster in July 1755, and when news of this reached London the pressure increased on Newcastle and Fox.

Pitt mocked the inept handling of the crisis and suggested Britain was ill-prepared for a major war that might break out with the French over the issue.

Ultimately war did break out with France the following year, over the issue of its invasion of Prussia rather than the North American situation.

Fox and Newcastle, realising that Minorca was severely vulnerable to a French attack, despatched a naval force to relieve the island.