Historian to present “The Battle of Lake George: Clash of Empires 1755”

Historian, educator and Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance member John-Eric Nelson will discuss the 1755 Battle of Lake George in a presentation at the Fort William Henry Conference Center on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, at 7 p.m. The Battle of Lake George, a series of three engagements between British and French forces, was the first time a British force made up entirely of Colonists defeated a professional European Army. “The victory by Colonial Provincials was one of few bright spots for the British in 1755,” Nelson says in a press release. “The Battle of Lake George was the opening salvo of the French and Indian War in the Hudson-Lake George-Lake Champlain corridor.”

The program is sponsored by the Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance and the French and Indian War Society at Lake George.  There is no charge for admission, however, space is limited and those wishing to attend may reserve a spot in advance by registering at info@lakegeorgebattlefield.org.

Nelson is a retired teacher from Milford Connecticut, and he represents an officer in the Connecticut Provincial Army as a reenactor. He regularly speaks on French and Indian War topics. His presentation sets the stage for the Fort William Henry encampment and battle reenactments that will be held in Battlefield Park Sept. 22-24. More than 250 British, French, and Native reenactors are participating in the event, which will include sutler vendors.

The Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to support historic preservation and interpretation in the park and promote awareness of local history. The Alliance operates the Lake George Battlefield Park Visitor Center, which will be open this fall Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Alliance offers free guided tours of the park each Saturday at 11 a.m. through the end of October