The surrender of Montreal to the British in 1760 marked a decisive end to the French and Indian War, a conflict rooted in the ongoing struggle between British and French colonial interests in North America. As British forces, under General Jeffrey Amherst, advanced through the continent, they effectively isolated Montreal from reinforcements and supplies. After years of skirmishes and battles that drained both sides of their resources, the defeat of the French in earlier engagements, particularly at Quebec, set the stage for the final confrontation in Montreal.

On September 8, 1760, with the city besieged and under pressure from the advancing British troops, French Governor Pierre de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil, made the decision to surrender. This capitulation not only resulted in the loss of Montreal but also encapsulated the collapse of French authority in New France. The terms of surrender stipulated that the French military would be permitted to leave the city safely while the British would take control—a process that was critical to maintaining order and preventing violent reprisals.

The surrender at Montreal effectively clinched Britain's dominance in North America, leading to the expulsion of French influence from the continent. The British victory reshaped trade routes, power dynamics, and the socio-political landscape of North America. Following the surrender, the Treaty of Paris in 1763 formalized these territorial changes, handing vast tracts of land to Britain and signalling the shift from French colonial aspirations to British hegemony in the region.