After further campaigning, d'Iberville attacked English settlements on Newfoundland before being diverted to York Factory in 1697. He captured St. John's and destroyed roughly thirty-six settlements during four months of raids, most without substantial military defenses. He was an experienced, improvisational commander who often chose weakly defended targets and inflicted severe destruction. The arrival of roughly two thousand English troops after his departure illustrates the gulf between formidable chartered companies and the far greater force a state could deploy. His later career also included exploration in Louisiana and service during Queen Anne's War.
Notable Point · 16:15-18:59
Newfoundland raids reveal the limits of company power
d'Iberville's destructive Newfoundland campaign shows both his operational skill and how quickly regular state forces could overwhelm company-scale warfare.