On 20 October 1758 he was appointed colonel of the 55th Regiment of Foot. During the French and Indian War he was given command of the British force at the Battle of Fort Niagara, promoted as Brigadier General. However, on 19 July 1759 he was killed by being struck in the head with a shell fragment. On the morning of that day, being still dusk, the recently appointed General was inspecting his artillery, when he suddenly stepped in front of a British mortar and was struck on the head by a fragment of shell, which burst prematurely at the mouth of one of their cohorns, and killed him on the spot decapitating him. He is described by some writers as an unpopular officer. The command of the siege of Fort Niagara then fell on Sir William Johnson.