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The main event was a Last Ride match , where the objective was to place an opponent in a hearse located on the entrance stage and drive them out of the arena . WWE Champion John " Bradshaw " Layfield ( JBL ) defeated The Undertaker in this match to retain his title . Two predominant bouts were featured on the undercard ; in respective singles matches , John Cena defeated Booker T to win the WWE United States Championship , and The Big Show defeated Kurt Angle .
Presented by THQ 's WWE Day of Reckoning , No Mercy grossed over $ 700 @,@ 000 ticket sales from an attendance of 10 @,@ 000 , and received 240 @,@ 000 pay @-@ per @-@ view buys . This event helped WWE increase its pay @-@ per @-@ view revenue by $ 6 @.@ 2 compared to the previous year .
= = Background = =
The event featured eight professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre @-@ existing scripted feuds , plots and storylines . Wrestlers portrayed either a villainous or fan favorite gimmick as they followed a series of events which generally built tension , leading to a wrestling match . All wrestlers were from the SmackDown ! brand – a storyline division in which WWE assigned its employees to a different program , the other being Raw .
The main event featured WWE Champion John " Bradshaw " Layfield ( JBL ) defending the title against The Undertaker in a match where the objective is to place an opponent in a hearse located on the entrance stage and drive them out of the arena , dubbed a Last Ride match . The buildup to the match began after SummerSlam , Smackdown 's previous pay @-@ per @-@ view event , where JBL defeated the Undertaker in a standard wrestling match , also called a singles match , via disqualification to retain his championship . During that week on an episode of SmackDown ! , JBL wore a neck brace , to signify that he was recuperating from a chokeslam that the Undertaker gave him on top of his limo . On the August 26 , 2004 episode of SmackDown ! , Orlando Jordan , one of JBL 's associates , defended the WWE Championship for JBL against the Undertaker . Undertaker won the match via disqualification following interference from JBL ; as a result , JBL retained the title . Two weeks later , General Manager Theodore Long , a fictitious match maker and rules enforcer , announced that Undertaker would get another opportunity for JBL 's title at No Mercy in a Last Ride match .
One of the featured matches was contested for the WWE United States Championship , in which Booker T defended the title against John Cena . At SummerSlam , Cena defeated Booker in the first series of " best of five " match . On the August 26 episode of SmackDown ! , the second match was won by Booker , to even the series one @-@ to @-@ one . The following night at a SmackDown ! live event , Booker defeated Cena to win the third match . On the September 16 episode of SmackDown ! , Cena defeated Booker in the fourth match , making the series even at two wins apiece . The following week it was announced that the final series title match would be scheduled at No Mercy .
The other featured preliminary match was Kurt Angle versus The Big Show in a singles match . The buildup to the match began on September 9 , 2004 during an episode of SmackDown ! , where a Lumberjack match ( a standard match where non @-@ participating wrestlers prevent contestants from fleeing the ring ) was scheduled between Kurt Angle and Eddie Guerrero . The match ended in a no contest when The Big Show marked his return to SmackDown ! by interfering in the match , chokeslamming both Angle and Guerrero in the process . The following week , Big Show was given two contracts to choose from ; one contract to face Guerrero and one contract to face Angle . Big Show signed the contract with Guerrero 's name on it . After signing it , Angle and his associate Luther Reigns , threw Guerrero out of the ring and offered Big Show a handshake . Big Show , however , tore up Guerrero 's contract and signed the one with Angle 's name on it to face him at No Mercy .
= = Event = =
Before the event went live on pay @-@ per @-@ view , Mark Jindrak defeated Scotty 2 Hotty in a match taped for Heat , one of WWE 's secondary television programs .
= = = Preliminary matches = = =
The first televised match was a standard wrestling match between Eddie Guerrero and Luther Reigns accompanied with Mark Jindrak . In the early stages both competitors took the advantage over one another . Reigns controlled most of the match , as Guerrero tried to avoid Luther 's assaults . Reigns began to work on Guerrero 's lower back , suplexing him down and bending him over his knee following a backbreaker . The match saw Guerrero take the advantage , as he was able to counter a swinging neckbreaker . The match concluded when Guerrero won the match by striking Reigns with a baton taken from a security guard .
The next match was for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship , in which champion Spike Dudley accompanied by The Dudleys ( D @-@ Von and Bubba Ray ) defended the title against Nunzio with <unk> Stamboli . The match began with Nunzio performing a <unk> , a slingshot crossbody where the wrestler goes from the inside of the ring over the top ring rope to the outside , on Spike . The match saw interference from Devon as he pushed Nunzio off the top ropes . Spike took control of the match , as he was able to slip both arms underneath Nunzio 's armpits and locked his hands behind his neck and pushing Nunzio 's head forward against his chest . Back and forth action saw both competitors take the advantage over one another . The match ended when Stamboli tried to prevent interference from D @-@ Von , allowing Bubba to trip up Nunzio and crotched him on the ring post and giving Spike the win and retention of his title .
The next match that followed was between Billy Kidman and Paul London . The start of the match saw London toss Kidman out of the ring and perform a running springboard moonsault , a move in which a wrestler springboards and executes a backflip to land on the opponent , from the top ropes to the outside onto Kidman . Kidman , however , took control once back in the ring , as he performed various stiff kicks on London 's midsection and focusing on his lower back . London attempted to perform a powerbomb , but was not successful in doing so as Kidman reversed it into a sitout facebuster for a near @-@ fall . The match concluded with Kidman as he executed a Shooting star press on London to get the pinfall victory over London .
The fourth match was for the WWE Tag Team Championship , in which champions René Duprée and Kenzo Suzuki defended the title against Rob Van Dam and Rey Mysterio . The match began with Van Dam and Duprée gaining the upper hand over each other . Duprée tagged Kenzo into the match , which led him to take offense over Van Dam . Mysterio was tagged in the match and performed a flying headbutt on Kenzo , followed by a tornado DDT onto Kenzo . Mysterio followed this by knocking Duprée off the apron and launching himself back into the ring , onto Kenzo in a seated senton , a move performed by jumping forward off a raised platform or springboarding on to the shoulders of a standing opponent forcing them to the ground . Mysterio tried to perform the 619 on Kenzo , however , Duprée stopped Mysterio from doing so . Mysterio then performed the 619 on Kenzo . As he prepared to perform the West Coast Pop , Duprée pulled Mysterio off the ropes . This led to Kenzo pinning Mysterio , as he held onto the ropes for leverage to pick up the win and retain the tag team title .
= = = Main event matches = = =
The first main match was between Kurt Angle and The Big Show . A stipulation in the match was placed that anyone who tried to interfere would get fired . For the duration of the match , The Big Show , who stood at 7 feet ( 2 @.@ 1 m ) and weighed 500 pounds ( 230 kg ) , used his body size to his advantage as he squashed , or easily and quickly performed moves on , Angle . Angle , who had enough , began to walk away from the match . Angle ran back to the ring and counted along with the referee for the 10 count . General Manager Theodore Long ordered Angle to return to the match with a no count out stipulation or else Angle would never wrestle on SmackDown ! again . Angle returned to the ring , in which Big Show dominated once more , even standing on Angle . A frustrated Angle brought a steel chair , but backfired when Big Show punched the chair onto Angle 's face . As Big Show prepared to perform a chokeslam , Angle countered into an ankle lock hold . Big Show managed to get a hold of the ropes to force Angle to break the hold and he was scripted to knock the referee down . Angle began targeting Big Show 's knee and even hitting his knee with the steel chair , to take advantage of the referee 's state . The match ended with Big Show chokeslamming Angle from the top of the ring . During this time , the referee regained consciousness and gave Big Show the pinfall victory .
The second main match was a singles match , in which United States Champion Booker T defended the title against John Cena in the final " best of five " match . In the early stages of the match , Cena and Booker fought at ringside . During this tussle Booker pounded Cena 's head into the ring steps before being reversed into them himself . The match then returned to the ring , which saw Booker and Cena getting the upper hand over one another . Cena took control as he performed several of his signature moves ; he ran up from behind Booker , grabbed his head with one hand and leaped forward to drive Booker 's face into the mat . He then followed with hitting a fist drop with theatrics , which Cena calls the Five Knuckle Shuffle . Cena tried to follow up with lifting Booker onto his shoulder , but Booker countered it into a Book End . Booker went for the pin on Cena , but he kicked out . Cena was able to dodge a kick to the back of the head that would force him to hit his face first into the mat , with lifting Booker over his shoulders and throwing him down to execute the FU . He pinned Booker to be declared the new United States Champion .
Another match on the undercard was a mixed tag team match between the team of the Dudley Boyz ( D @-@ Von and Bubba Ray ) and Dawn Marie versus Charlie Haas , Rico Constantino , and Miss Jackie . The start of the match saw Haas get back body dropped by the Dudley 's . Dawn was tagged in to the match , as was Jackie who tagged herself in , if a man tags her female partner , both men leave the ring and both women enter the match . The two women began to beat one another . Bubba Ray tagged himself in and demanded Jackie give him a kiss , and closed his eyes . Rico came in and kissed Bubba Ray , prompting Bubba Ray to run away and gag audibly . Rico wrestled against D @-@ Von , and was in control until Bubba Ray and D @-@ Von double teamed him . Bubba Ray called for the flying head butt to the crotch , but D @-@ Von was hesitant in performing the move on Rico . This caused Dawn and Jackie to continue their fight , as both entered the ring . The match ended when Haas performed a flying axe handle setting up the legal tag to Rico to perform a moonsault and get the win .
The main event was the Last Ride match for the WWE Championship , in which John " Bradshaw " Layfield ( JBL ) defended the title against The Undertaker . During the beginning of the match , the Undertaker began hitting JBL in the corner , before twisting his arm around and dropping JBL 's arm on the top rope . Following this , the Undertaker chokeslammed JBL in the ring , and performed a leg drop off the ring apron . Outside the ring , the Undertaker threw JBL towards the steel ring steps . The Undertaker continued to uphold the upper hand over JBL , as he began to remove the television set from the Spanish announce table , but JBL managed to hit Undertaker upside the head with the steel ring steps . JBL tried to put the Undertaker in the hearse , but the Undertaker fought back . A frustrated JBL took the Undertaker back to the ring and hit a shoulder block from the top rope . The Undertaker managed to get the upper hand once more , as he applied a triangle choke hold on JBL , leading JBL to tap out , but submissions do not count prior in this match . The Undertaker <unk> out of a piledriver attempt on the steel ring steps and grabbed JBL , turned him upside @-@ down and dropped into a kneeling position , driving JBL 's head into the steel steps , making JBL bleed from the head . Minutes later , the Undertaker chokeslammed JBL off the announce table through the Spanish table . The Undertaker carried JBL to the hearse , and Jon Heidenreich came out of the hearse . Heidenreich began to attack the Undertaker , covered his mouth with a soaked rag filled with chloroform . Heidenreich placed the Undertaker into the hearse and drove off . Inside the hearse , a camera was inside the hearse to show the Undertaker wake up and jump out and attack Heidenreich . JBL recovered , and swung his arm forward while running towards the Undertaker , a move JBL calls Clothesline from Hell , and helped Heidenreich place the Undertaker back into the hearse to be driven away . Backstage , Paul Heyman drove the hearse to the parking lot , where Heidenreich drove his car into it at high speed , causing an inexplicable explosion . As a result , JBL won the match and retained his title .
= = Aftermath = =
Following No Mercy , the storyline between JBL and The Undertaker ended . JBL was then placed in a new angle against Booker T. On an episode of SmackDown ! , a six man tag team match involving Booker T , Rob Van Dam , and Rey Mysterio taking on JBL , Kenzo Suzuki , and René Duprée was scheduled . At the time , Booker T being a villain , congratulated JBL with the success that he has accomplished within the company in a segment backstage . The tag team match got underway , and JBL was led to believe that Booker was going to betray his tag partners , as Booker warned both Van Dam and Mysterio not to interfere with him during the match . The match concluded with Booker pinning JBL for the win , thus turning Booker into a crowd favorite . The following week on SmackDown ! , Booker defeated Orlando Jordan , JBL 's associate , to earn the right to face JBL for the WWE Championship at Survivor Series . At Survivor Series , JBL defeated Booker to retain the WWE title .
On the October 21 episode of SmackDown ! , Paul Heyman requested that Theodore Long schedule a match between Heidenreich and the Undertaker at Survivor Series . Long agreed to the match , but informed Heyman that in order for the match to take place , he had to get the Undertaker to sign the contract personally . The following week , Heyman met the Undertaker at an undisclosed location where he pleaded his case about Heidenreich wanting to face the Undertaker in a match . The Undertaker signed the contract and warned Heyman he would defeat Heidenreich at Survivor Series . At the November event , the Undertaker was successful in defeating Heidenreich .
Following his win at No Mercy , John Cena lost the WWE United States Championship to Carlito Caribbean Cool , who debuted on SmackDown ! . As part of the storyline , Carlito was given a bodyguard , Jesús , who stabbed Cena in the kidney while at a Boston @-@ area nightclub . On the November 18 episode of SmackDown ! , Cena captured the United States Championship after defeating Carlito for it . Cena also debuted a " custom made " spinner @-@ style title belt .
= = = Reception = = =
The Continental Airlines Arena usually can accommodate 20 @,@ 000 , but the capacity was reduced for the event . This event grossed over $ 700 @,@ 000 from an approximate attendance of 10 @,@ 000 – the maximum allowed . It also received 240 @,@ 000 pay @-@ per @-@ view buys . No Mercy helped WWE earn $ 24 @.@ 7 million in revenue from pay @-@ per @-@ view events versus $ 18 @.@ 5 million the previous year , which was later confirmed by Linda McMahon , the CEO of WWE , on November 23 , 2004 in a quarterly result . Canadian Online Explorer 's professional wrestling section rated the event 5 out of 10 . The rating was the same as the No Mercy 2005 event , which was marked as an " absolutely terrible " pay @-@ per @-@ view from WWE . The standard match between Billy Kidman and Paul London was rated a 7 out of 10 . Additionally , the matches of Eddie Guerrero versus Luther Reigns , Spike Dudley versus Nunzio , Booker T versus John Cena , and the Last Ride match were all rated a 4 out of 10 .
The event was released on DVD on November 9 , 2004 . The DVD was distributed by the label , Sony Music Entertainment .
= = Results = =
= Sir John Brunner , 1st Baronet =
Sir John Tomlinson Brunner , 1st Baronet , PC DL ( 8 February 1842 – 1 July 1919 ) was a British chemical industrialist and Liberal Party politician . At Hutchinson 's alkali works in Widnes he rose to the position of general manager . There he met Ludwig Mond , whom he later formed a partnership with to create the chemical company Brunner Mond & Co . , initially making alkali by the Solvay process . As a Member of Parliament he represented Northwich , Cheshire , in 1885 – 1886 and then from 1887 – 1910 . He was a paternalistic employer and as a politician supported Irish Home Rule , trade unions , free trade , welfare reforms and , leading up to the First World War , a more sympathetic stance towards Germany . Brunner was a prominent Freemason , and a generous benefactor to the towns in his constituency and to the University of Liverpool . He is the great grandfather of the Duchess of Kent .
= = Early life and career = =
John Tomlinson Brunner was born in Everton , Liverpool , the fourth child and second son of John Brunner ( b . 20 June 1800 ) , a Swiss Unitarian and schoolmaster , and Margaret Catherine <unk> ( d . 8 September 1847 ) , who originated from the Isle of Man , daughter of Thomas <unk> and wife Margaret Leece . His father established a school in Netherfield Road , Everton , known as St George 's House , to teach children along the lines advocated by Pestalozzi . Brunner 's mother died in 1847 , when he was aged five ; his father married Nancy Inman in 1851 . She had a shrewd business sense and Brunner gave credit to her for teaching him skills in practical matters . Brunner was educated at his father 's school and then , at the age of 15 , he decided to follow a career in commerce . He spent four years in a shipping house in Liverpool , but found it neither exciting nor lucrative , and so decided on a change of career . In 1861 , Brunner took a clerical post at Hutchinson 's alkali works in Widnes , where his older brother Henry was already working as technical manager . There , he rose to the position of general manager . Shortly after starting work at Hutchinson 's , Brunner met the German @-@ born chemist Ludwig Mond .
= = Brunner Mond and Company = =
In 1873 Brunner formed a partnership with Mond and together they founded Brunner Mond & Company . Their initial capital was less than £ 20 @,@ 000 ( £ 1 @.@ 6 million in 2016 ) , most of which was borrowed . In April 1872 Mond had been to Belgium to meet Ernest Solvay to negotiate terms to manufacture alkali by the process Solvay had developed . The Solvay process produced soda ash more cheaply than the established Leblanc process , from raw materials which were more easily obtainable , and produced fewer waste products . Mond made a gentlemen 's agreement with Solvay to apportion the global markets , with Mond 's company having exclusive rights to the United States and to the British Isles .
Brunner and Mond decided to build their factory at Winnington , near Northwich , Cheshire on land owned by Lord Stanley of Alderley . This was sited on the River Weaver which allowed for the transport of the raw materials and finished products to and from the works . Lord Stanley insisted on selling the house , Winnington Hall , as well as the surrounding land , as part of the deal . The purchase was completed in 1873 , and for a time both Mond and Brunner lived separately in the wings of the hall . The early years were extremely difficult , initially in getting the plant to work efficiently and then in selling the soda ash . It was not until 1878 that success was achieved when they outsold their competitors and were producing their products more cheaply . In 1881 , the partnership was converted into a limited company with capital assets listed at £ 600 @,@ 000 ( £ 5 @.@ 5 million in 2016 ) and the founders became managing directors for life . In 1891 , Brunner became the chairman and retained that position until April 1918 , 14 months before his death . However , by then his duties were being increasingly performed by his son , Roscoe .
After its slow start , Brunner Mond & Company became the wealthiest British chemical company of the late 19th century . On its merger with three other British chemical companies to form Imperial Chemical Industries ( ICI ) in 1926 , it had a market capitalization of over £ 18 million ( £ 940 million in 2016 ) . Brunner 's sobriquet , " Chemical Croesus " , was given to him by The Times . He was a paternalistic employer and went to great lengths to improve the situation of his employees . Measures introduced by Brunner and Mond were shorter working hours , sickness and injury insurance , and holidays with pay .
= = Politics = =
During the years he was working at Hutchinson 's in Widnes , Brunner was developing his political interests . He joined the Widnes chapter of the National Education League and became its secretary in 1872 . This gave him the opportunity to come into contact with Liberals from Liverpool and other parts of the country . Soon after moving to Northwich Brunner became more practically involved with education locally , in particular with the British School in the town . He later served on its board of governors and also on the local sanitary authority . As a result of the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 the parliamentary constituency of Northwich was created and Brunner offered himself as a candidate for the Liberal Party . In his speech for the position he expressed support for the disestablishment of the Church of England , for reform of property laws , for Irish Home Rule and for compensation for those whose properties had been damaged by the pumping of brine from the salt mines in the area . During the campaign he was heckled because he had a foreign @-@ sounding name . He responded " My father was a Swiss , my mother was a Manx woman , I was born in Liverpool , my nurse was Welsh : is that Cheshire enough for you ? " At the general election on 1 December 1885 Brunner beat William Henry Verdin , his Conservative rival , with a majority of 1 @,@ 028 .
The Liberal Party won more seats than any other party in the election , but insufficient to form a majority government , leaving the Irish Parliamentary Party holding the balance of power . It proved impossible to form a stable government , and so another general election was called in June 1886 . In the meantime , the Liberal Party had split , and the Liberal Unionist Party had been formed . Brunner 's opponent at the 1886 election was William Henry Verdin 's brother , Robert , standing as a Liberal Unionist . The election was held on 13 July 1886 , and Brunner was defeated by 458 votes . In November 1886 , Brunner embarked on a world tour , accompanied by his wife and his son Stephen . His return to Northwich on 2 July 1887 was greeted with great celebration , as he was extremely popular in the town , regarded as a kind and sympathetic employer and a generous benefactor . Within three weeks of Brunner 's return , Robert Verdin died and a by @-@ election was called . Brunner 's opponent was Lord Henry Grosvenor , who was standing as a Liberal Unionist . This time , at the election on 13 August , Brunner won with a majority of 1 @,@ 129 . At the 1892 general election , Brunner 's opponent was not a Liberal Unionist , but a Conservative , George Whiteley , who was a cotton manufacturer from Blackburn . Brunner was returned with an increased majority of 1 @,@ 255 . In the 1895 election he beat Thomas Ward , another Conservative , by 1 @,@ 638 votes . The 1900 general election was held during the Boer War , to which Brunner was opposed . He retained his seat , but with a reduced majority of 699 . In the 1906 general election , Brunner 's opponent was the Conservative Colonel <unk> North who had fought in the Boer War . Brunner increased his majority to 1 @,@ 792 . He continued to be the Member of Parliament for Northwich until the general election in January 1910 , when he decided not to stand again , partly because of his own health and also because of concern for his wife 's health . Subsequently he moved to Surrey , but continued to play a part in politics when he was elected to the Chertsey division of Surrey County Council .
As a Liberal MP he supported Irish Home Rule , trade unions , free trade and welfare reforms . Leading up to the First World War he argued that Britain should adopt a more sympathetic approach towards Germany , including naval disarmament . When war did break out , Brunner was resolute in the opinion that it should be fought and won . In addition to the production of alkali , his factories were making other chemicals for use as explosives . He also built a new factory to purify <unk> .
= = Benefactions = =
Brunner was a generous benefactor whose gifts included the provision of schools , <unk> and social clubs . In Northwich he provided a free library and re @-@ endowed Sir John Deane 's Grammar School . In Runcorn he purchased a disused chapel and presented it to the town to be used by the trades unions and the Friendly Societies , and in nearby Weston village he bought a disused school and gave it to the local community to serve as its village hall . He also endowed the chairs of economics , physical chemistry and Egyptology at the University of Liverpool .
Abroad he gave gifts to the Landesmuseum in Zürich and provided a hospital , also in Switzerland . In 1885 he became a Freemason and in 1900 founded the John Brunner Lodge at Over Winsford . The following year he was honoured with the brevet rank of Past Grand Deacon of England .
In 1899 Brunner ( who had by then been created a baronet ) became chairman of the Runcorn and Widnes Transporter Bridge Company . He subscribed £ 25 @,@ 000 ( £ 2 @.@ 5 million in 2016 ) towards its construction plus a loan of £ 12 @,@ 000 ( £ 1 @.@ 2 million in 2016 ) together with a personal guarantee on a bank loan of £ 31 @,@ 000 ( £ 3 @.@ 1 million in 2016 ) . When the building of the bridge was complete in 1905 it was due to be opened by Edward VII , but the king was unable to attend , and so Brunner performed the ceremony himself . By 1911 it had become apparent that the bridge would always operate at a loss , and Brunner assigned his interest in it to Widnes Corporation . The Times stated that this action amounted to a " virtual gift of £ 68 @,@ 000 " ( £ 6 @.@ 2 million in 2016 ) .
= = Personal life = =
On 14 June 1864 Brunner married Salome Davies , the daughter of a Liverpool merchant with whom he had six children . Salome died on 29 January 1874 and the following year he married Jane Wyman , the daughter of a Kettering physician and the governess to his children . From this marriage three more children , all daughters , were born . In 1891 the <unk> moved from Winnington Hall to Wavertree , a suburb of Liverpool .
Amongst other offices held , he was Vice @-@ President of the British Science Guild , Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Lancashire ( from 1904 ) and Pro @-@ Chancellor of the University of Liverpool . In 1909 the University of Liverpool awarded him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws . In 1895 he was made the Baronet of Druids Cross in the County of Lancashire and in 1906 he became a member of the privy council , but he declined offers of a peerage . He died in 1919 at his home in Chertsey , Surrey . His estate amounted to over £ 906 @,@ 000 ( £ 38 million in 2016 ) . In addition , he had given generously to his five married daughters , and had transferred investments to his sons .
The baronetcy passed to his eldest son , John Fowler Leece Brunner . His descendants include , through his elder son 's daughter ( Joyce Brunner Worsley ) , Katharine , Duchess of Kent ( born 1933 ) , married since 1961 to a grandson of Britain 's King George V , and Shelagh Brunner ( 1902 @-@ 1983 ) , daughter of his younger son ( Harold Roscoe Brunner ) , who morganatically married Prince Ferdinand of Liechtenstein ( 1901 @-@ 1981 ) in 1925 , a member of that principality 's still reigning dynasty .
= Battle of Quebec ( 1690 ) =
The Battle of Quebec was fought in October 1690 between the colonies of New France and Massachusetts Bay , then ruled by the kingdoms of France and England , respectively . It was the first time Quebec 's defences were tested .
Following the capture of Port Royal in Acadia , during King William 's War , the New Englanders hoped to seize Montreal and Quebec itself , the capital of New France . The loss of the Acadian fort shocked the Canadians , and Governor @-@ General Louis de Buade de Frontenac ordered the immediate preparation of the city for siege .
When the envoys delivered the terms of surrender , the Governor @-@ General famously declared that his only reply would be by " the mouth of my cannons . " Major John Walley led the invading army , which landed at Beauport in the Basin of Quebec . However , the militia on the shore were constantly harassed by Canadian militia until their retreat , while the expedition 's ships , commanded by Sir William Phips , were nearly destroyed by cannon volleys from the top of the city .
Both sides learned from the battle : the French improved the city 's defences , while the New Englanders realized they needed more artillery and better support from England to take the city .
= = Background = =
The colony of New France claimed the largest area of North America , although by population it was numerically inferior to the neighbouring colonies of New England and New York . By 1689 , there were only about 14 @,@ 000 settlers in New France , but most of the population lived in towns protected by elaborate forts .
In 1690 , Sir William Phips was appointed major @-@ general by Massachusetts to command an expedition against French Acadia . He sailed with seven vessels carrying a 450 @-@ strong militia " Foot Regiment " , and Port Royal surrendered on 21 May . Its governor , Louis @-@ Alexandre des <unk> de <unk> , had only about 70 men , and no guns mounted , and would have been unable to resist . On 22 May , Phips recorded " We cut down the cross , rifled the Church , pulled down the High @-@ Altar , breaking their images " ; and on 23 May , " kept gathering Plunder both by land and water , and also under ground in their Gardens " .
This shocked the French colonists , who feared that their capital city would be the next target . Quebec did not have extensive fortifications in 1690 , and the whole landward side of the city to the north and west was exposed , particularly at the Plains of Abraham . Count Frontenac returned to Canada for a second term as Governor @-@ General , and ordered the construction of a wooden palisade to enclose the city from the fort at the Château Saint @-@ Louis to the Saint @-@ Charles River . Town Major Provost oversaw the construction of eleven small stone redoubts in this enceinte , which would have protected against cannon . Facing the plains on the west side was the strong point of the landward defences — a windmill called Mont @-@ Carmel where a three @-@ gun battery was in place . The palisade line ended on the east side of the city , near the hospital . The batteries facing the river were also improved , with eight guns mounted beside the Château and six 18 @-@ pounders at the <unk> . Temporary obstacles had also been put in place on the street leading up to the upper city .
Meanwhile , a mobile war party of 150 Albany militia and Iroquois warriors under Captain John Schuyler marched and canoed overland to Montreal , imitating the petite guerre tactics ( long @-@ range expeditions into enemy territory ) perfected by the French colonists . Schuyler 's expedition was designed to seize Montreal and pin French forces south of Quebec , allowing the Boston fleet to sail against the capital unopposed . Smallpox , lack of supplies , and disagreements among the officers caused most of the militia and Iroquois to turn back in disgust , leaving Schuyler with a fraction of the 855 men promised by the New England authorities . On 4 September the English raiders attacked settlements south of Montreal , killing some 50 habitants in the middle of their harvests . Too weak to risk a battle with the town 's garrison , Schuyler wrapped up the New England invasion and turned home . Thus , when Phips was sighted off <unk> , Frontenac ordered the garrisons of Montreal and Trois @-@ Rivières to make for the threatened capital with all haste . Four days later the Governor arrived in Quebec with 200 – 300 troops freed @-@ up by the failure of Schuyler 's invasion , considerably lifting the capital 's spirit of resistance .
= = Arrival of Phips = =
While the New England colonies and New York dispatched a force overland against Montreal , which accomplished virtually nothing , Massachusetts launched a separate expedition against Quebec . The whole operation had been financed by issuing paper bonds set against the expected booty to be taken from the city . The expedition consisted of about 32 ships ( only four of which were of any size ) and over 2 @,@ 300 Massachusetts militiamen , and was under the overall command of Phips , the victor at Port Royal . Its departure was delayed until quite late in the summer because it was waiting ( in vain ) for the arrival of additional munitions from England . Consequently , when Phips ' expedition set out from Hull on 20 August , it was inadequately supplied with ammunition . Bad weather , contrary winds , and lack of pilots familiar with the Saint Lawrence River hampered progress , and Phips did not anchor in the Quebec basin until 16 October .
Frontenac , a shrewd and experienced officer , reached Quebec from Montreal on 14 October . When all the militia whom he had summoned arrived , he had nearly 3 @,@ 000 men to defend the place . The New Englanders had been " quite confident that the cowardly and effete French would be no match for their hardy men " , but in fact the opposite was the case . Frontenac had reason for confidence , as he possessed a force of three battalions of colonial regulars that were certainly superior to Phips 's amateur companies — in the event the regulars were not needed as the Canadien militia succeeded in repulsing Phips ' landing parties . Furthermore , the city was " sited on the strongest natural position they [ the English officers ] had likely ever seen . " Not only did it have impressive cliffs and Cape Diamond , but the eastern shore was so shallow that ships could not approach and landing craft would be needed .
On 16 October , Phips sent Major Thomas Savage as an envoy to deliver a summons of surrender to Frontenac . The encounter has been described as an application of psychological warfare . Before the fighting Frontenac led Phips ' envoys blindfolded through roaring mobs in the streets of Quebec in order to mask his numerical inferiority . Then , in the Château Saint @-@ Louis , Frontenac and many of his officers in their best dress listened to the envoy as he demanded the city 's surrender . <unk> by this " stately Hall full of Brave <unk> men , " Savage did his best to deliver <unk> 's ultimatum . Drafted by Massachusetts Puritans , the document began severely :
The New Englander told them they had one hour to comply , and then pulled out his watch . The proud and temperamental Frontenac was so enraged that he wanted to have the envoy hanged before the full view of the English fleet , and it was only because of the Bishop of Quebec , François de Laval , that he was calmed . Asked for a written response , Frontenac shot back :
Savage accepted his blindfold with relief and was led back to his ship . Phips ' council of war was extremely vexed by the reply , having expected to fall upon a defenseless and panicked city . That evening drums and fifes were heard approaching Quebec , followed by heavy cheering from the town : Louis @-@ Hector de Callière had arrived with the remaining Montreal militia , giving Frontenac a numerical advantage over the New Englanders .
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