The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815

The Glorious First of June, Camperdown, the Nile, Copenhagen and Trafalgar, the frigate duels, and the War of 1812 on the ocean and the Great Lakes.

This chapter of Naval Battles holds 288 battles. For each one we give when and where it was fought, who fought it, the ships that took part, what happened, how it ended and why it is remembered. See all 2,188 battles on one page.

Marea can build any of the ships that fought in these battles, as she was on the day, with the maximum detail the records permit. Many of these battles cost thousands of lives, and we build their ships with that in mind.

This database was put together by Ai Refloat™, Marea’s own artificial intelligence, from naval histories, museums, official records and encyclopaedias in many languages. Ai Refloat is still young & like any teenager, it can be a little volatile and unpredictable at times, but above all, it is learning fast. So this list may well contain mistakes and we welcome the input of everyone who knows these battles better than we do.

Have you spotted a mistake, or is a battle missing? Tell us which battle and what to correct, and we will amend it accordingly. Tell us here

The battles

The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Action of 18 June 1793 Single-ship action
18 June 1793 · Off Start Point, Devon, English Channel
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Captain Edward Pellew (Britain); Captain Jean Mullon, mortally wounded (France)
Forces One British frigate, HMS Nymphe, against one French frigate, Cléopâtre
Ships HMS Nymphe, Cléopâtre
Losses British: 23 killed, 27 wounded. French: 63 killed and wounded, 250 captured, Cléopâtre captured.
Result British victory
Cléopâtre had been raiding British merchant shipping from Cherbourg. Pellew in Nymphe sighted and chased her, and Mullon turned to fight. With both crews cheering, the frigates exchanged broadsides at 06:15, and after 50 minutes the British boarded and hauled down the tricolour.
Why it is remembered Cléopâtre was the first major French warship captured in the war, and Pellew was hailed as a hero. Nicholas Pocock painted the action.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Nicholas Pocock, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Action of 20 October 1793 Single-ship action
20 October 1793 · Off Cape Barfleur, English Channel
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Captain James Saumarez (Britain); Captain François A. Dénian (France)
Forces British: the frigate HMS Crescent, joined at the end by the 28-gun frigate HMS Circe. French: the frigate Réunion and the cutter Espérance.
Ships HMS Crescent, HMS Circe, Réunion, Espérance
Losses British: 1 wounded, by accident. French: 33 killed, 48 wounded, Réunion captured.
Result British victory
Saumarez in Crescent was watching Cherbourg when Réunion and the cutter Espérance approached. He isolated the frigate and battered her for more than two hours, losing only rigging. Dénian surrendered when HMS Circe arrived.
Why it is remembered Réunion was taken into the Royal Navy and Saumarez was knighted. Thomas Whitcombe painted the action.
Sources differ One account gives French casualties as more than 80 and possibly as many as 120; another account gives 33 killed and 48 wounded.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Action of 22 October 1793 Single-ship action
Also known as Seegefecht vom 22. Oktober 1793
22 October 1793 · Off Sardinia, Mediterranean Sea
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Captain Horatio Nelson (Britain); Commodore Jean-Baptiste Perrée (France)
Forces British: the 64-gun ship of the line HMS Agamemnon. French: 4 frigates, among them Melpomène, and 1 brig.
Ships HMS Agamemnon, Melpomène
Losses British: 1 killed, 6 wounded. French: 24 killed, 50 wounded.
Result Inconclusive
Nelson in Agamemnon attacked the large French frigate Melpomène off Sardinia and chased her through the night, inflicting serious damage. Melpomène escaped when the rest of Perrée's squadron came up. The French went on to land reinforcements in Corsica.
Why it is remembered It was Nelson's first action of the war. Nicholas Pocock painted Agamemnon engaging the French frigates.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Nicholas Pocock (1740 to 1821), 1810, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Action of 24 October 1793 Single-ship action
24 October 1793 · Northern Bay of Biscay
Fought between France against Great Britain
Commanders Captain Jean-François Tartu, killed, and Captain Zacharie Allemand (France); Captain James Cotes (Britain)
Forces British: the frigate HMS Thames. French: the larger frigate Uranie, later joined by a squadron of three frigates and a brig.
Ships HMS Thames, Uranie
Losses British: 13 killed, 21 wounded, Thames captured. French: 4 killed, 7 wounded.
Result French victory
HMS Thames and the much larger Uranie fought for nearly four hours until they separated, both badly damaged. Uranie, her captain dead, slipped away while Thames was repairing. At 16:00 Allemand's squadron arrived and Cotes, outnumbered, surrendered.
Why it is remembered Thames became the French Tamise and Uranie was renamed Tartu after her dead captain. The British recaptured Tamise in June 1796 and took Tartu in December 1796.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Action of 31 July 1793 Single-ship action
31 July 1793 · Off the New Jersey coast, near New York
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Captain George Courtenay, killed (Britain); Captain Jean-Baptiste-François Bompart (France)
Forces One British frigate, HMS Boston, against one French frigate, Embuscade
Ships HMS Boston, Embuscade
Losses British: 10 killed, 24 wounded. French: 50 killed or wounded.
Result Inconclusive
Courtenay sent a challenge into New York, where Embuscade lay, and Bompart sailed out to meet him with thousands watching from the shore. The smaller Boston took the worse damage, and Courtenay fell at 6:20. Soon after 07:00 Boston made sail to escape; Bompart pursued but fell back by 08:00.
Why it is remembered It was fought as a public challenge. Courtenay was thrown overboard as dead, and rumours that he was only unconscious caused lasting debate among historians.
Sources differ Lieutenant John Edwards said Courtenay was dead when thrown overboard; Edward Pelham Brenton accepted rumours that he was only stunned, while William James defended Edwards.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Théodore Gudin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Prelude to the War of the First Coalition
Childers Incident Other action
2 January 1793 · Goulet de Brest, entrance to the Roadstead of Brest, Brittany
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Commander Robert Barlow (Britain)
Forces British: the 14-gun brig HMS Childers. French: shore batteries.
Ships HMS Childers
Losses No casualties on either side. Childers was struck by a 48 lb cannonball.
Result Childers withdrew without loss
HMS Childers was sent into the Roadstead of Brest to report on the readiness of the French fleet. In the Goulet de Brest she came under fire from French batteries flying the tricolour, which kept firing although Barlow showed she was a neutral British vessel, until she withdrew.
Why it is remembered It is seen as the opening shots between Britain and France in the French Revolutionary Wars, a month before war broke out on 1 February 1793.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Remi Jouan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Raid on Genoa Raid
5 October 1793 · Harbour of Genoa, Republic of Genoa
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Rear-Admiral John Gell (Britain); French commander unknown
Forces British: 2 ships of the line and 1 brig-sloop sent their boats. French: the frigate Modeste and 2 tartanes at anchor.
Ships Modeste, Impérieuse, HMS Captain
Losses British: none. French: 1 killed, 10 wounded, Modeste and 2 tartanes captured.
Result British victory
After the British took Toulon, Lord Hood sent Gell's squadron to deal with French frigates sheltering in neutral Italian ports. At Genoa the British boats boarded Modeste and two smaller warships at anchor, in defiance of Genoese neutrality, and took all three. Six days later HMS Captain seized the abandoned Impérieuse at La Spezia.
Why it is remembered Angry Genoese Republicans then blocked Austrian reinforcements bound for Toulon, which the French retook in December. A French propaganda engraving by Nicolas Ozanne showed the raid as a massacre.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Nicolas Ozanne, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Capture of San Pietro and Sant'Antioco Landing or siege
Also known as Prise de San Pietro et Sant'Antioco
25 May 1793 · Islands of San Pietro and Sant'Antioco, south west Sardinia
Fought between Spain against France
Commanders Francisco de Borja y Poyo (Spain); French commander unknown
Forces Spanish: 24 ships of the line and 4 frigates. French: 2 frigates.
Losses Spanish: unknown. French: 1,400 captured, 1 frigate captured and 1 frigate burnt.
Result Spanish victory
A Spanish fleet retook the islands of San Pietro and Sant'Antioco, the last French garrisons left after the failed French assault on Sardinia, capturing one French frigate and burning another.
Why it is remembered It ended the French expedition to Sardinia.
Sources Wikipédia (FR)
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition (Federalist revolts)
Siege of Toulon (1793) Landing or siege
29 August to 19 December 1793 · Toulon, France
Fought between French Republic against French Royalists and Federalists, Great Britain, Spain, Naples and Sardinia
Commanders Napoleon Bonaparte (wounded), Dugommier, Jean Carteaux, Jean de La Poype (Republic); Samuel Hood, Charles O'Hara (surrendered), Sidney Smith, Henry Phipps, David Dundas (Britain); Juan de Lángara and Federico Gravina (Spain)
Forces Republican: 32,000. Allied: 22,000 to 23,000 men and 74 ships (British 8,000 men and 37 ships, Spanish 7,000 and 32 ships, Neapolitan and Sardinian 6,500 and 5 ships, Royalists 1,500).
Losses Republican: 1,700 killed or wounded. Allied: about 4,600, including British 700 and Spanish 1,200 killed or wounded, Neapolitans and Sardinians 200 killed or wounded and 1,000 captured, and 1,500 Royalists captured.
Result French Republican victory
Royalists handed Toulon, home to a third of the French Navy's ships of the line, to the Coalition, and an Anglo-Spanish fleet landed 13,000 troops. Republican forces besieged the city and took the outer forts, and their batteries made the anchorage untenable. The Allies evacuated on 18 December, burning or capturing several French warships. Republicans entered on 19 December and executed up to 800 Royalist prisoners.
Why it is remembered It made the name of Napoleon Bonaparte, then an artillery officer, and the burning of the fleet crippled much of the French Navy for a time.
Sources differ Allied strength is given as both 22,000 and 23,000.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Jean-Antoine-Siméon Fort, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Action of 21 October 1794 Single-ship action
21 October 1794 · Off Ushant, Brittany, 25 to 30 nautical miles out to sea
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Commodore Sir Edward Pellew and Captain Edmund Nagle (Britain); Captain Antoine René Thévenard (France)
Forces British: 4 frigates, led into action by the 38-gun HMS Artois. French: the 40-gun frigate Révolutionnaire.
Ships HMS Artois, Révolutionnaire
Losses British: 3 killed, 5 wounded. French: 8 killed, 5 wounded, Révolutionnaire captured.
Result British victory
Révolutionnaire, sailing from Le Havre to raid British trade, met Pellew's frigate squadron off Ushant and fled for the coast. The fast HMS Artois cut her off and fought her for 45 minutes until support arrived, when the French crew surrendered against their captain's orders.
Why it is remembered Révolutionnaire joined the Royal Navy and served in the squadron that captured her, later taking the French frigate Unité in April 1796.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Lawrence, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Action of 23 April 1794 Fleet battle
Also known as Combat du 23 avril 1794
23 April 1794 · Off Guernsey, English Channel
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Sir John Borlase Warren and Richard Strachan (Britain); Georges Desgarceaux, killed (France)
Forces British: 5 frigates. French: 3 frigates and 1 corvette.
Ships HMS Arethusa, Pomone
Losses British: 10 killed, 25 wounded. French: 140 killed or wounded, 2 frigates and 1 corvette captured.
Result British victory
A British frigate squadron under Sir John Borlase Warren fought a French squadron of three frigates and a corvette under Desgarceaux off the Channel Islands and captured three of the French ships.
Why it is remembered John Askew's 1805 painting shows HMS Arethusa giving the final blows to the French frigate Pomone.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: John Askew, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars (East Indies theatre)
Action of 5 May 1794 Single-ship action
5 May 1794 · Off Isle de France (Mauritius), Indian Ocean
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Captain Henry Newcome (Britain); French commander not named
Forces British: the frigate HMS Orpheus, distantly supported by HMS Centurion and HMS Resistance. French: the frigate Duguay Trouin and the brig Vulcain.
Ships HMS Orpheus, HMS Centurion, HMS Resistance, Duguay Trouin, Vulcain
Losses British: 1 killed, 9 wounded. French: 21 killed, 60 wounded, Duguay Trouin captured.
Result British victory
The British squadron blockading Isle de France chased two arriving ships, the French frigate Duguay Trouin, a former East India Company ship, and a brig. Duguay Trouin sailed poorly and many of her crew were sick. HMS Orpheus caught and raked her, and after an hour and twenty minutes she surrendered.
Why it is remembered Newcome brought his prize back to India.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Jean Baptiste Henri Durand-Brager (1814 to 1879), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Action of 6 November 1794 Fleet battle
Also known as Combat du 16 Brumaire an III
6 November 1794 · Celtic Sea
Fought between France against Great Britain
Commanders Contre-amiral Joseph-Marie Nielly (France); Captain Richard Rodney Bligh and Charles Powell Hamilton (Britain)
Forces French: 5 ships of the line, 3 frigates and 1 corvette. British: 2 ships of the line, HMS Alexander and HMS Canada.
Ships HMS Alexander, HMS Canada
Losses French: 10 wounded. British: 28 killed, 30 wounded, HMS Alexander captured.
Result French victory
A French squadron from Brest, hunting a British convoy, met two British ships of the line returning from escort duty. The British ships split up; Canada outran pursuit, but the slower Alexander was caught by several French ships in turn. She drove off the first two, but after a close fight with the third Bligh surrendered.
Why it is remembered It was a rare French victory between the British successes of the Glorious First of June and Groix. William Shayer painted Alexander shortly before she struck.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: William Shayer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Action of 7 May 1794 Convoy battle
5 to 7 May 1794 · Western Approaches, Atlantic Ocean
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Charles Boyles (Britain); Charles-Alexandre Léon Durand Linois, surrendered (France)
Forces British: 2 ships of the line escorting a convoy from Cork, among them the 74-gun HMS Swiftsure. French: 1 frigate, Atalante, and 1 corvette.
Ships HMS Swiftsure, Atalante
Losses British: 1 killed. French: 10 killed, 32 wounded, Atalante captured.
Result British victory
The escorts of a convoy from Cork chased two French raiders, which split up; each escort followed one. After a chase of nearly two days HMS Swiftsure brought the frigate Atalante within range, and despite a brave defence Linois surrendered after more than 40 casualties. A French battle squadron then chased the British ships, which escaped after dark.
Why it is remembered Linois was widely praised for his defence. Atalante became HMS Espion.
Sources differ One account is titled 7 May 1794, but another account gives the date as 5 May 1794 and a third account says the chase began on 5 May and lasted nearly two days.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Action of 8 June 1794 Single-ship action
8 June 1794 · Off Fréjus, south of France
Fought between France against the Kingdom of Sardinia
Commanders Counter-admiral Pierre Martin (France); Captain Ross (Sardinia)
Forces French: the frigate Boudeuse, with the 80-gun Tonnant. Sardinian: the frigate Alceste.
Ships Boudeuse, Tonnant, Alceste
Losses Sardinian: Alceste captured.
Result French victory
During Martin's cruise to contest British operations off Corsica, the French frigate Boudeuse attacked and captured the Sardinian frigate Alceste off Fréjus.
Why it is remembered Alceste, a former French ship, returned to French service and fought at the action of 8 March 1795 and the Battle of the Hyères Islands before the British took her in 1799.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Antoine Maurin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition (Invasion of Corsica)
Siege of Bastia Landing or siege
4 April to 22 May 1794 · Bastia, Corsica
Fought between Great Britain and Corsica against France
Commanders Lord Hood and Captain Horatio Nelson (Britain); Pasquale Paoli (Corsica); Jean-Pierre Lacombe-Saint-Michel (France)
Forces British and Corsican: 2,400 men and the Mediterranean Fleet. French: 5,000.
Ships HMS Victory
Losses British: 14 killed, 34 wounded, 6 missing, 1 floating battery destroyed. French: 700 killed or wounded, 1 corvette captured.
Result Anglo-Corsican victory
After taking San Fiorenzo, Hood turned on Bastia, held by a large French garrison. Hood and Nelson expected it to fall to assault and bombardment in ten days, but the defences were much stronger and the siege lasted six weeks. The garrison surrendered when its food ran out and was given safe passage to France.
Why it is remembered It was a key step in the British conquest of Corsica, which became a self-governing part of the British Empire. Ralph Willett Miller drew the town from HMS Victory during the siege.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Ralph Willett Miller, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition (Invasion of Corsica)
Siege of Calvi Landing or siege
17 June to 10 August 1794 · Calvi, Corsica
Fought between Great Britain and Corsica against France
Commanders Samuel Hood, Horatio Nelson (wounded), Charles Stuart, John Moore (Britain); Pasquale Paoli (Corsica); Raphaël de Casabianca (France)
Forces British and Corsican: 2,300 men and the Mediterranean Fleet. French: 6,000 regulars and militia on the island, 2 frigates, 2 brigs and 1 gunboat.
Losses British: 38 killed, 50 wounded, 1,000 sick. French: 700 killed or wounded, 2 frigates, 2 brigs and 1 gunboat captured.
Result Anglo-Corsican victory
With Hood's fleet in support, General Stuart besieged Calvi, the last French fortress in Corsica, defended by two strong forts. After weeks of bombardment the British stormed the forts and drove the French into the town, which capitulated on generous terms on 10 August.
Why it is remembered Nelson lost the sight of one eye during the siege, and Corsica became a British base for two years.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Bowyer, Robert, Worthington, William Henry & Bromley, William, 1808, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Haitian Revolution and War of the Pyrenees
Capture of Fort-Dauphin (1794) Landing or siege
Also known as Siege of Fort-Dauphin
28 to 29 January 1794 · Fort-Dauphin (now Fort-Liberté), Saint-Domingue (Haiti)
Fought between Spain against France
Commanders Admiral Gabriel de Aristizábal (Spain); Candy (France)
Forces Spanish: 3 ships of the line, 1 frigate and 400 men. French: 1,031 men.
Losses Spanish: none. French: 1,031 captured and 41 guns taken.
Result Spanish victory
A Spanish expeditionary force under Admiral Aristizábal blockaded Fort-Dauphin by land and sea. The French garrison of about a thousand men surrendered without firing a shot.
Why it is remembered It was a bloodless capture.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Nicolas Ponce / Nicolas Ozanne, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition (Atlantic campaign of May 1794)
Frigate action of 29 May 1794 Single-ship action
29 May 1794 · Off Cape Finisterre, Atlantic Ocean
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Captain Francis Laforey (Britain); L'Huillier (France)
Forces One British frigate, HMS Carysfort, against the larger frigate Castor
Ships HMS Carysfort, Castor
Losses British: 1 killed, 4 wounded. French: 16 killed, 9 wounded, Castor captured.
Result British victory
Castor, a British frigate seized by a French squadron on 19 May and put into French service at sea, was chasing a Dutch merchant ship when she met the smaller HMS Carysfort. Laforey attacked at once and after an hour and fifteen minutes forced her to surrender, finding British prisoners below decks.
Why it is remembered A long legal case followed over the prize money, which Laforey won with help from the French captain's testimony. Laforey later fought at Trafalgar. Thomas Whitcombe painted the capture.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition (Atlantic campaign of May 1794)
Glorious First of June Fleet battle
Also known as Third Battle of Ushant; Fourth Battle of Ushant; Bataille du 13 prairial an II; Combat de Prairial
1 June 1794 · Atlantic Ocean, about 400 nautical miles west of Ushant
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Admiral Richard Howe, Earl Howe (Britain); Counter-admiral Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse (France)
Forces British: 25 ships of the line, 7 frigates, 2 fireships, 2 cutters and 1 sloop. French: 26 ships of the line, 5 frigates and 2 corvettes.
Ships HMS Queen Charlotte, Montagne, HMS Brunswick, Vengeur du Peuple, HMS Marlborough, HMS Defence, HMS Russell, HMS Ramillies, Juste, Northumberland, Jemmappes, Impétueux, America, Achille
Losses British: 1,200 killed or wounded. French: 4,000 killed or wounded, 3,000 captured, 6 ships of the line captured and 1 sunk.
Result British tactical victory; French strategic success, as the grain convoy reached France
Howe's Channel Fleet tried to stop a vital French grain convoy from the United States, covered by Villaret's Atlantic fleet. Howe ordered each ship to turn into the French line and engage its opponent, but not all captains understood, and the attack went in piecemeal. HMS Brunswick fought Vengeur du Peuple at close quarters until the French ship sank. The British took six ships of the line before both battered fleets went home.
Why it is remembered It was the first and largest fleet action of the French Revolutionary Wars, and both sides claimed victory. Loutherbourg painted Lord Howe's Action in 1795, and in France the sinking of Vengeur du Peuple became a patriotic legend.
Sources differ A history of the campaign says seven French ships were captured, one of which later sank; the account of the battle gives six captured and one sunk.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Philip James de Loutherbourg, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars (East Indies theatre)
Battle of Île Ronde Fleet battle
Also known as Action of 22 October 1794; Premier combat de la Rivière Noire
22 October 1794 · Off Île Ronde, north of Isle de France (Mauritius), Indian Ocean
Fought between France against Great Britain
Commanders Jean-Marie Renaud (France); Samuel Osborne (Britain)
Forces French: the frigates Cybèle and Prudente and three smaller vessels. British: the 50-gun HMS Centurion and the 44-gun HMS Diomede.
Ships Cybèle, Prudente, HMS Centurion, HMS Diomede
Losses French: 38 killed, 105 wounded. British: 3 killed, 26 wounded.
Result Inconclusive
A British squadron was blockading Isle de France, a base for raiders on British trade with India and China. Renaud sailed to drive it off. For two and a quarter hours Centurion and Cybèle fought a close duel that left both badly damaged; Cybèle withdrew with support, and Centurion, unsupported by the distant Diomede, also retired for repairs.
Why it is remembered The British abandoned the blockade and returned to India, letting food reach the island, and did not renew it.
Sources Wikipedia · Wikipédia (FR)
Image: Unknown author, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Invasion of Guadeloupe (1794) Landing or siege
11 April to 10 December 1794 · Guadeloupe, French West Indies
Fought between Great Britain and French Royalists against the French Republic
Commanders General Charles Grey and Admiral Sir John Jervis (Britain); Georges Henri Victor Collot and Victor Hugues (France)
Losses 500 men and women who had fought with the British were executed by the French.
Result French victory
British troops under Grey landed on 11 April 1794 with Jervis's fleet, and Collot surrendered Basse-Terre on 24 April. On 4 June a French fleet landed troops under Victor Hugues, who with local Republicans, and helped by yellow fever among the British, retook the whole island by 10 December.
Why it is remembered The planters had sought British protection as France abolished slavery; the French reconquest ended with mass executions of those who had sided with Britain.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars
Martin's cruise of 1794 Fleet battle
Also known as Action of 8 June 1794
June to November 1794 · Off Fréjus and Gourjean Bay, southern France, Mediterranean Sea
Fought between France against Great Britain and the Kingdom of Sardinia
Commanders Pierre Martin (France); Lord Hood (Britain); Captain Ross (Sardinia, frigate Alceste)
Forces French squadron under Martin, including the frigate Boudeuse and the 80-gun Tonnant; the Sardinian frigate Alceste; the main British Mediterranean fleet under Hood
Ships Boudeuse, Tonnant, Alceste
Losses The Sardinian frigate Alceste was captured on 8 June 1794.
Result Capture of Alceste by the French; the French squadron was then blockaded in Gourjean Bay but escaped to Toulon in November
In June 1794 Counter-admiral Pierre Martin took a French squadron out of Toulon to contest British operations against Corsica. On 8 June the frigate Boudeuse attacked and captured the Sardinian frigate Alceste off Fréjus. Three days later Martin retreated before Hood's main fleet and anchored in Gourjean Bay, where Hood judged him too well protected to attack and blockaded him instead. Martin escaped in November and returned to Toulon.
Why it is remembered It was the only significant French naval operation in the Mediterranean in 1794. The captured Alceste, herself a former French ship, returned to French service and fought at the action of 8 March 1795 and the Battle of the Hyères Islands.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Antoine Maurin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Battle of Mykonos Single-ship action
Also known as Bataille de Mykonos
17 June 1794 · Harbour of Mykonos, Cyclades, Aegean Sea
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Captain William Paget (Britain); Commodore Jacques-Mélanie Rondeau, surrendered (France)
Forces British: the 50-gun fourth rate HMS Romney. French: the 40-gun frigate Sibylle and 3 merchant ships.
Ships HMS Romney, Sibylle
Losses British: 10 killed, 28 wounded. French: 55 killed, 103 wounded, Sibylle and 3 merchant ships captured.
Result British victory
HMS Romney, escorting a convoy to Smyrna, found Sibylle at anchor at Mykonos with three merchant ships. Rondeau refused to surrender. Paget placed Romney so the town was out of his line of fire and the two ships fought at close range for an hour and ten minutes until Sibylle struck.
Why it is remembered Sibylle joined the Royal Navy and later fought a celebrated battle against the French frigate Forte in 1799. Robert Cleveley painted the capture.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Robert Cleveley, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Haitian Revolution and War of the First Coalition
Battle of Port-Républicain Landing or siege
30 May to 5 June 1794 · Port-Républicain (Port-au-Prince), Saint-Domingue (Haiti)
Fought between French Republic against Great Britain and French Royalists
Commanders Martial Besse, Hugues Brisset de Montbrun de Pomarède, Léger-Félicité Sonthonax, Étienne Polverel (Republic); John Whyte and John Ford (Britain)
Forces Republican: 800 men, 2 ships of the line and a few frigates. British: 4,000 men, 4 ships of the line, 3 frigates, 5 corvettes and brigs, 316 guns.
Losses Republican: unknown. British: 8 killed, 8 wounded.
Result British victory
A British force with naval support attacked and took Port-Républicain from the French Republicans.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Nicolas Ponce / Alexis-Nicolas Pérignon, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition (Invasion of Corsica)
Siege of San Fiorenzo Landing or siege
Also known as Siege of Saint-Florent
7 to 20 February 1794 · San Fiorenzo (Saint-Florent), Corsica
Fought between Great Britain and Corsica against France
Commanders David Dundas and Robert Linzee (Britain); Pasquale Paoli (Corsica); Antoine Gentili (France)
Forces British and Corsican: 1,400 men and the Mediterranean Fleet. French: 700 men and 2 frigates.
Losses British: 42 killed, 127 wounded. French: 102 killed or wounded, 101 captured, 2 frigates sunk.
Result Anglo-Corsican victory
A first British attack in autumn 1793 was beaten off by the tower at Torra di Fornali. In February 1794 Hood mounted a joint attack from the sea and by amphibious landings. Over two weeks British artillery drove the French from their defences one by one and destroyed the French shipping in the harbour, and on 18 February the garrison withdrew to Bastia.
Why it is remembered It opened the British conquest of Corsica.
Sources differ One account says the garrison withdrew on 18 February; another account gives the end date as 20 February.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars (East Indies theatre)
Sunda Strait campaign of January 1794 Fleet battle
2 January to 9 February 1794 · Sunda Strait, between Java and Sumatra, and Bencoolen
Fought between East India Company and the Dutch Republic against France
Commanders Charles Mitchell (East India Company); Kerwal (Dutch Republic); Jean-Marie Renaud (France)
Forces East India Company and Dutch: 6 armed merchant ships, 2 corvettes and 1 brig. French: 4 frigates, 1 corvette and 1 brig, with privateers.
Ships Amazone
Losses East India Company: 3 killed, 2 wounded, 1 merchant ship captured. French: 11 killed, 25 wounded, 1 frigate and 1 corvette captured.
Result Inconclusive
French privateers and frigates from Isle de France preyed on trade in the Sunda Strait, so the East India Company sent a squadron of armed merchant ships to drive them off. On 22 January it captured two large privateers, and on 24 January it fought a larger French squadron in the strait without result, before the Dutch frigate Amazone joined. The French later attacked Bencoolen on 9 February and took an East Indiaman in the harbour.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Heather; J.Stephenson; William Heather, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Action of 10 April 1795 Fleet battle
10 to 11 April 1795 · Western Approaches, Atlantic Ocean
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Rear-Admiral John Colpoys (Britain); Captain Beenst (France)
Forces British: 5 ships of the line and 2 frigates. French: 3 frigates.
Ships HMS Astraea, HMS Hannibal, Gloire, Gentille, Fraternité
Losses British: 8 killed or wounded. French: 40 killed or wounded, 2 frigates captured.
Result British victory
Colpoys's squadron, part of the blockade of Brest, intercepted three French frigates, which split up. HMS Astraea caught Gloire and beat her in a close fight of just under an hour. On the morning of 11 April HMS Hannibal caught Gentille, whose captain surrendered at once. Fraternité escaped.
Why it is remembered Thomas Whitcombe painted the capture of Gloire.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Action of 22 August 1795 Fleet battle
22 August 1795 · Off Eigerøya, Norway, entrance to the Skagerrak
Fought between Great Britain against the Batavian Republic
Commanders Captain James Alms (Britain); Captain Arnold Christiaan Leopold van Dirckinck (Batavian Republic)
Forces British: 4 frigates (the main account lists 1 ship of the line and 3 frigates). Batavian: 2 frigates and 1 cutter.
Ships HMS Stag, Alliantie, Argo
Losses British: 5 killed, 18 wounded. Batavian: 2 killed, 15 wounded, Alliantie captured.
Result British victory
Alms's squadron, patrolling the Skagerrak, chased a Batavian squadron along the Norwegian coast to cut it off from neutral waters. HMS Stag caught the rearmost ship Alliantie and after an hour forced her to strike. The rest escaped to Eigerøya thanks to a fierce rearguard by the frigate Argo.
Why it is remembered Nicholas Pocock painted the action.
Sources differ One account describes the British force as four frigates; another account gives 1 ship of the line and 3 frigates.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Nicholas Pockock, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition (Mediterranean campaign of 1793 to 1796)
Action of 24 June 1795 Single-ship action
24 June 1795 · Western Mediterranean, midway between Menorca and Toulon
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Captain George Henry Towry (Britain); Jean-Baptiste Perrée (France)
Forces British: the small frigates HMS Dido and HMS Lowestoffe. French: the larger frigates Minerve and Artémise.
Ships HMS Dido, HMS Lowestoffe, Minerve, Artémise
Losses British: 6 killed, 16 wounded. French: 30 killed and wounded, Minerve captured.
Result British victory
Scouting frigates from both fleets met between Menorca and Toulon. Minerve tried to ram Dido, whose rigging caught on the French bowsprit, and the crews fought hand to hand for 15 minutes until the bowsprit broke. Lowestoffe then raked Minerve and left her unmanageable. Artémise withdrew, and Lowestoffe battered the isolated Minerve into surrender.
Why it is remembered Minerve served in the Royal Navy under the same name until the French retook her in 1803. Thomas Whitcombe painted the capture in 1817.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition (Mediterranean campaign of 1793 to 1796)
Action of 8 March 1795 Single-ship action
8 March 1795 · Off Cap Corse, Ligurian Sea
Fought between France against Great Britain
Commanders Louis Lejoille (France); Captain Adam Littlejohn, killed (Britain)
Forces French: the 32-gun frigate Alceste, later helped by the frigate Vestale and the 74-gun Duquesne, with the French Mediterranean Fleet in distant support. British: the damaged 74-gun HMS Berwick, jury rigged and mounting 64 guns.
Ships HMS Berwick, Alceste, Vestale, Duquesne
Losses French: 8 wounded. British: 1 killed, 4 wounded, Berwick captured.
Result French victory
Berwick, left behind at San Fiorenzo after a winter accident, was following Hotham's fleet when she ran into Martin's French fleet. The frigate Alceste reached her first and most of the fighting was between the two. Littlejohn was killed after an hour, and with the ship unmanageable and more French ships closing, the surviving officers surrendered.
Why it is remembered Berwick served in the French Navy for ten years until she was retaken at Trafalgar. Days later the fleets met at the Battle of Genoa.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Lieutenant William Elliott; Valentine Green, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Cornwallis's Retreat Fleet battle
Also known as 28 to 29 Prairial an III
16 to 17 June 1795 · Off the west coast of Brittany, Atlantic Ocean
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Vice-Admiral William Cornwallis (Britain); Vice-admiral Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse (France)
Forces British: 5 ships of the line and 2 frigates. French: 12 ships of the line and 11 frigates.
Ships HMS Royal Sovereign
Losses British: 12 wounded. French: 29 killed or wounded.
Result British victory (the squadron escaped intact)
After Cornwallis's squadron attacked a French convoy off Brittany, Villaret brought out the main French fleet. Cornwallis fled for open water, but after a day's chase two badly loaded ships slowed him and the French van came within range on 17 June. Cornwallis turned back to protect his rearguard and placed his flagship HMS Royal Sovereign between the two forces. Believing from British signals that the Channel Fleet was near, Villaret broke off.
Why it is remembered British historians have held it up as a model of courage and coolness against heavy odds. Thomas Luny painted the action. The French fleet was beaten at Groix six days later.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Luny, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition (Mediterranean campaign of 1793 to 1796)
Battle of Genoa (1795) Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Cape Noli; Bataille de Gênes; Lord Hotham's Action
13 to 14 March 1795 · Gulf of Genoa, Ligurian Sea
Fought between Great Britain and Naples against France
Commanders Vice-Admiral William Hotham (Britain); Counter-admiral Pierre Martin (France)
Forces Anglo-Neapolitan: 14 ships of the line. French: 13 ships of the line.
Ships Sans Culotte, Ça Ira, Censeur, HMS Illustrious
Losses Anglo-Neapolitan: 74 killed, 254 wounded. French: 400 to 750 killed or wounded, 2 ships of the line captured.
Result Anglo-Neapolitan victory
Martin's fleet sailed for Genoa, taking a British ship of the line on the way, and then turned back when Hotham pursued. For two days Hotham's leading ships fought running actions with the French rear. Martin's flagship Sans Culotte lost touch overnight, and when he withdrew, Ça Ira and Censeur were left behind and forced to surrender. Hotham declined to pursue further, despite Captain Horatio Nelson's urging.
Why it is remembered Nelson's frustration at Hotham's caution is often recalled. HMS Illustrious was later wrecked on the Italian coast.
Sources differ One account gives the Anglo-Neapolitan fleet as 13 ships of the line; another account gives 14. French casualties range from 400 to 750.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Battle of Groix Fleet battle
Also known as Lord Bridport's Action
23 June 1795 · Off the island of Groix, Bay of Biscay
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Admiral Alexander Hood, Lord Bridport (Britain); Vice-admiral Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse (France)
Forces British: 14 ships of the line. French: 12 ships of the line.
Ships HMS Royal George, HMS Queen Charlotte, HMS Sans Pareil, Peuple, Alexandre, Formidable, Tigre
Losses British: 31 killed, 113 wounded. French: 670 killed or wounded, 3 ships of the line captured.
Result British victory
Bridport's fleet, covering the Royalist landing at Quiberon, met Villaret's fleet returning to Brest. Villaret ran for the anchorage off Groix, but his slower ships were overhauled one by one, and Alexandre, Formidable and Tigre were taken with very heavy casualties. Fearing for his ships on the rocky coast, Bridport broke off after a few hours, and Villaret retreated to Lorient.
Why it is remembered British historians have seen it as a lost chance to destroy the French Atlantic fleet. Formidable became HMS Belleisle. Thomas Whitcombe painted the action in 1816.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Pyrenees (War of the First Coalition)
Battle of the Gulf of Roses Single-ship action
Also known as Action of 14 February 1795; Combat du golfe de Rosas
14 February 1795 · Gulf of Roses, Mediterranean Sea
Fought between Spain against France
Commanders Juan de Lángara (Spain); Captain Guet, surrendered (France)
Forces Spanish: the 112-gun ship of the line Reina María Luisa. French: the frigate Iphigénie.
Ships Reina María Luisa, Iphigénie, Montañés
Losses Spanish: minor. French: 280 killed or wounded, Iphigénie captured.
Result Spanish victory
On Lángara's orders the Spanish three-decker Reina María Luisa chased the French frigate Iphigénie for over 24 hours and forced her to strike. Later the 74-gun Montañés, escorting the prize, was attacked by eight French ships of the line and two frigates flying Spanish colours; she reached Sant Feliu de Guíxols and drove them off, losing three men killed.
Why it is remembered The Montañés defence, in which she fired 1,100 rounds, became a noted Spanish feat.
Sources differ The main account dates the Montañés action to 30 March 1795 while also saying it was several days after the capture of 14 February.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition (Mediterranean campaign of 1793 to 1796)
Battle of the Hyères Islands Fleet battle
Also known as Bataille des îles d'Hyères
13 July 1795 · Off the Îles d'Hyères, south of France
Fought between Great Britain and Naples against France
Commanders William Hotham and Horatio Nelson (Britain); Pierre Martin (France)
Forces Anglo-Neapolitan: 23 ships of the line, 2 frigates, 1 corvette, 3 brigs and 1 cutter. French: 19 ships of the line, 7 frigates, 1 corvette and 4 brigs.
Ships Alcide
Losses Anglo-Neapolitan: 11 killed, 28 wounded. French: about 300 killed or wounded, 1 ship of the line destroyed.
Result Anglo-Neapolitan victory
Martin's fleet, sighted off Cap Corse by Nelson's flying squadron, fell back towards the Îles d'Hyères. On 13 July the British van caught the French stragglers and cut off the rearmost ship Alcide, which surrendered, caught fire and blew up with heavy loss of life. Hotham declined to attack the rest of the French fleet.
Why it is remembered Hotham's caution was criticised by his officers and later historians. It was the last fleet action in the Mediterranean before the Battle of the Nile in 1798.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Serres, Dominic, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition; Chouannerie
Invasion of France (1795) Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Quiberon; Quiberon expedition
23 June to 21 July 1795 · Quiberon peninsula, Brittany
Fought between French Royalists, Chouans and Great Britain against the French Republic
Commanders Joseph-Geneviève de Puisaye, Louis Charles d'Hervilly (died of wounds), Georges Cadoudal, Charles de Sombreuil (executed), Vincent de Tinténiac (killed) (Royalists); Alexander Hood, John Borlase Warren (Britain); Lazare Hoche, Jean Baptiste Canclaux (Republic)
Forces Royalist and British: 15,000 Chouans, 5,437 émigrés, 80 cannon, 9 British warships and 60 transports. Republican: 13,000 men.
Losses Royalists: around 5,000 dead and 6,332 captured. Republicans: unknown.
Result French Republican victory
A British squadron landed émigré counter-revolutionary troops on the Quiberon peninsula on 23 June 1795 to support the Chouannerie and Vendée revolt and raise western France against the Republic. Hoche's Republican army contained and then crushed the landing, which was finally repulsed on 21 July.
Why it is remembered The failure dealt a disastrous blow to the royalist cause; the émigré commander Sombreuil was among those executed.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Paul-Émile Boutigny, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Invasion of the Cape Colony Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Muizenberg; Slag om Muizenberg
10 June to 15 September 1795 · Simon's Town and Muizenberg, Dutch Cape Colony
Fought between Great Britain against the Dutch East India Company
Commanders Vice-Admiral Sir George Elphinstone and James Henry Craig (Britain); Governor Abraham Josias Sluysken and Robert Gordon, both surrendered (Dutch)
Forces British: 1,800 regulars, 5 ships of the line, 2 sloops and 14 troopships. Dutch: 3,600 regulars and militia, 1 frigate and 1 brig.
Ships HMS Monarch
Losses British: 4 to 5 killed, 54 wounded. Dutch: unknown killed, wounded or captured, 1 frigate and 1 brig captured.
Result British victory
After France overran the Dutch Republic, Elphinstone's squadron arrived off Simon's Town in June 1795. Talks failed and British troops landed on 7 August, fighting a short battle at Muizenberg. Skirmishing went on until a larger British force landed in September, and Governor Sluysken surrendered the colony.
Why it is remembered It gave Britain the Cape, then the only viable South African port on the route to the East Indies, until 1802. A Batavian squadron sent to retake it surrendered without a fight a year later.
Sources differ British killed are given as 4 to 5.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Battle of the Levant Convoy Convoy battle
Also known as Action of 7 October 1795
7 October 1795 · Off Cape St. Vincent, Portugal
Fought between France against Great Britain
Commanders Commodore Joseph de Richery (France); Commodore Thomas Taylor (Britain)
Forces French: 6 ships of the line and 3 frigates. British: 3 ships of the line, 1 frigate and 31 merchant ships.
Ships HMS Censeur
Losses French: unknown. British: 1 ship of the line (HMS Censeur) and 30 merchant ships captured.
Result French victory
Richery's squadron, sent from Toulon to attack the Newfoundland fisheries, fell on the weakly escorted British Levant convoy. HMS Censeur lost a topmast as Taylor formed line and was quickly overwhelmed, and Taylor withdrew, leaving the merchant ships to the French frigates. Only one merchant ship escaped.
Why it is remembered Richery was blockaded in Cádiz for nearly a year before escaping to raid the fisheries off Maritime Canada.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Antoine Maurin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition (Low Countries theatre)
Capture of the Dutch fleet at Den Helder Other action
23 January 1795 · Nieuwediep, near Den Helder, Dutch Republic
Fought between France against the Dutch Republic
Commanders Jan Willem de Winter and Louis Lahure (France); Captain Hermanus Reintjes (Dutch Republic)
Forces French: the 8th Hussar Regiment and a voltigeur company of the 15th Line Infantry. Dutch: 5 ships of the line, 3 frigates, 6 corvettes and 4 cutters frozen at anchor.
Losses French: none. Dutch: all 14 to 18 warships captured.
Result French victory
During the French invasion of the Dutch Republic, French hussars approached the Dutch fleet frozen in the ice of the Nieuwediep, some crossing the ice. They negotiated an agreement that the Dutch warships would stay at anchor, and the fleet passed into French hands.
Why it is remembered It is one of the very rare captures of a fleet by cavalry. Charles Mozin painted the scene in 1836.
Sources differ One account speaks of 14 Dutch warships; another account lists 18 (5 ships of the line, 3 frigates, 6 corvettes and 4 cutters).
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Charles Louis Mozin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Action of 12 May 1796 Fleet battle
12 May 1796 · Off the Texel, North Sea
Fought between Great Britain against the Batavian Republic
Commanders Captain Lawrence Halstead (Britain); Batavian commander unknown
Forces British: 3 frigates and 1 brig-sloop. Batavian: 1 frigate, 3 brigs and 1 cutter.
Ships HMS Phoenix, HMS Pegasus, HMS Sylph, Argo, Duke of York, Mercuur, Echo, Gier
Losses British: 1 killed, 3 wounded. Batavian: 6 killed, 28 wounded, 1 frigate, 1 brig and 1 cutter captured, 2 brigs wrecked.
Result British victory
A Batavian squadron returning from Norway was attacked off the Dutch coast by a squadron detached from Duncan's fleet. Halstead in HMS Phoenix cut off the frigate Argo, which surrendered in 20 minutes. In the chase that followed Phoenix took the cutter Duke of York, Sylph took the brig Mercuur, and Pegasus drove the brigs Echo and Gier ashore.
Why it is remembered It was part of the British blockade of the Texel that led to the Battle of Camperdown a year later.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Anglo-Spanish War (1796 to 1808), War of the First Coalition
Action of 13 October 1796 Single-ship action
13 October 1796 · Off Cabo de Gata, near Cartagena, Spain
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders Captain Richard Bowen (Britain); Frigate Captain Tomás de Ayalde, surrendered (Spain)
Forces The British 32-gun frigate HMS Terpsichore against the Spanish 34-gun frigate Mahonesa
Ships HMS Terpsichore, Mahonesa
Losses British: 4 wounded. Spanish: 30 killed, 30 wounded, 250 captured, Mahonesa captured.
Result British victory
Bowen in Terpsichore was returning to Gibraltar after shadowing a Spanish fleet when Ayalde in Mahonesa offered battle. The ships fought at close quarters for an hour and forty minutes; Mahonesa suffered far worse, tried to escape and surrendered after a chase of 20 minutes.
Why it is remembered It was the first battle of the Anglo-Spanish War, eight days after Spain declared war. Mahonesa was too damaged to repair. Thomas Whitcombe painted the capture.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Anglo-Spanish War, War of the First Coalition
Action of 19 December 1796 Single-ship action
19 to 20 December 1796 · Off Cartagena, Murcia, Spain
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders Commodore Horatio Nelson (Britain); Commodore Don Jacobo Stuart (Spain)
Forces British: the frigates HMS Minerve and HMS Blanche. Spanish: the frigates Sabina and Ceres, later supported by the frigates Matilde and Perla and the 112-gun Príncipe de Asturias.
Ships HMS Minerve, HMS Blanche, Sabina, Ceres, Matilde, Perla, Príncipe de Asturias
Losses British: 7 killed, 44 wounded. Spanish: 19 killed, 58 wounded.
Result Inconclusive
Nelson, on his way to evacuate the British garrison of Elba, met Stuart's frigates off Murcia. Minerve fought Sabina for three hours until she surrendered, while Blanche drove off Ceres. When a larger Spanish squadron appeared, Nelson abandoned his prize, which was quickly retaken, and sailed away.
Why it is remembered Nelson went on to evacuate Elba and rejoined Jervis just before the Battle of Cape St. Vincent.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown, British School, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Action of 31 May 1796 Convoy battle
31 May 1796 · Off Arma di Taggia and Bussana, Ligurian coast of Italy
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Commodore Horatio Nelson (Britain); Enseigne de vaisseau Pioch (France)
Forces British: a squadron led by the 64-gun HMS Agamemnon, using ships' boats. French: 2 gunboats and 5 transports, covered by a shore battery.
Ships HMS Agamemnon, Génie, Numéro Douze, Bonne-Mère, Vierge de Consolation, Jean Baptiste, St. Anne de Paix
Losses British: 1 killed, 3 wounded. French: all 7 vessels captured (one destroyed).
Result British victory
Nelson learned that the French were sending supplies by sea for the siege of Mantua and went to intercept them. A convoy of seven sail anchored under a shore battery; Nelson sent in the boats, and after brief resistance from the armed tartane Génie, a gunboat and the battery, all seven were taken. The cargoes included brass siege guns and mortars.
Why it is remembered It cut off siege artillery bound for the French army in Italy.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Nicholas Pocock, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars (East Indies theatre)
Action of 9 September 1796 Fleet battle
Also known as Action of 8 September 1796
8 to 9 September 1796 · Off north west Sumatra, near Banda Aceh, Indian Ocean
Fought between France against Great Britain
Commanders Contre-amiral Pierre César Charles de Sercey (France); Richard Lucas (Britain)
Forces French: 6 frigates. British: 2 ships of the line of 74 guns, HMS Arrogant and HMS Victorious.
Ships HMS Arrogant, HMS Victorious, Vertu, Seine
Losses French: 42 killed, 104 wounded. British: 24 killed, 84 wounded.
Result Inconclusive
Sercey's frigate squadron, raiding British trade, had attacked shipping at Banda Aceh and was heading for Penang when two British 74s found it. On 9 September the French frigates formed line and engaged Arrogant and then Victorious, keeping them apart. Both sides were damaged and disengaged by late morning; the British went to Madras for repairs and Sercey eventually sheltered at Batavia.
Sources differ The Wikidata label gives 8 September 1796; one account gives the action as 9 September, with another account giving 8 to 9 September.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: François Geoffroi Roux, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Atlantic raid of June 1796 Blockade and raiding
4 to 22 June 1796 · Western Approaches, near the Scilly Isles and off Cape Clear, Ireland
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Thomas Williams (Britain); Jean Moulston (France)
Forces British: 3 frigates (HMS Unicorn, HMS Santa Margarita and HMS Dryad). French: 3 frigates (Tribune, Tamise, Proserpine) and the corvette Légère.
Ships HMS Unicorn, HMS Santa Margarita, HMS Dryad, Tribune, Tamise, Proserpine, Légère
Losses British: 4 killed, 10 wounded. French: 99 killed, 79 wounded, 3 frigates and 1 corvette captured.
Result British victory
British frigates from Cork hunted a French raiding squadron. Santa Margarita caught and took Tamise after a furious duel, and Unicorn took Tribune at 22:30 after a second hard fight. Five days later Dryad took Proserpine off Cape Clear in 45 minutes, and Légère was captured without a fight nine days after that.
Why it is remembered All four French ships were bought into the Royal Navy. Nicholas Pocock painted the capture of Tribune by Unicorn in 1797.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Nicholas Pocock, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars (East Indies theatre)
Capitulation of Saldanha Bay Fleet battle
17 August 1796 · Saldanha Bay, Cape Colony
Fought between Great Britain against the Batavian Republic
Commanders Vice-Admiral Sir George Elphinstone (Britain); Schout-bij-nacht Engelbertus Lucas, surrendered (Batavian Republic)
Forces British: 8 ships of the line, 1 frigate and 5 sloops. Batavian: 3 ships of the line, 2 frigates, 3 sloops and 1 merchant ship.
Losses British: none. Batavian: 1,972 men and all 9 vessels captured.
Result British victory
A Batavian squadron sent to the East Indies, with orders to retake the Cape if necessary, arrived after a six month voyage short of water and with crews close to mutiny. It anchored in Saldanha Bay, where Elphinstone's larger fleet trapped it on 15 August. With his crews in open revolt, Lucas surrendered unconditionally on 17 August.
Why it is remembered Elphinstone was made Baron Keith. Lucas died before his court-martial. A 1796 cartoon mocked the surrender as Dutch perfidy rewarded.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Isaac Cruikshank, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
French expedition to Ireland (1796) Landing or siege
Also known as Expédition d'Irlande; Bantry Bay expedition
December 1796 to January 1797 · Approaches to Brest and Bantry Bay, Ireland
Fought between France against Great Britain
Commanders General Lazare Hoche and Morard de Galles (France); Robert Kingsmill and Captain Sir Edward Pellew (Britain)
Forces French: 12,000 to 25,000 troops, 17 ships of the line, 13 frigates, 6 corvettes and 7 troopships. British: 13 warships.
Ships Droits de l'Homme
Losses French: 2,230 killed or drowned, 1,000 captured, 2 ships of the line wrecked, 1 frigate captured, 2 frigates scuttled, 1 frigate wrecked, 1 corvette captured, 4 troopships captured and 1 troopship sunk. British: unknown.
Result Anglo-Irish victory (the invasion failed)
France sent Hoche's army from Brest to land at Bantry Bay and join the United Irishmen. In one of the stormiest winters of the century the fleet was scattered on leaving port, one ship was wrecked with heavy loss, and the commanders were blown far off course. Most ships reached Bantry Bay, but landings were impossible in the weather and within a week the fleet broke up and straggled home through storms and British patrols.
Why it is remembered No French soldier reached Ireland except as a prisoner. James Gillray mocked the failure in a cartoon, and the French tried again in 1798.
Sources differ French troop numbers range from 12,000 to 25,000.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: James Gillray, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Newfoundland expedition Raid
Also known as Expédition à Terre-Neuve; Expedición a Terranova
28 August to 5 September 1796 · Newfoundland, Labrador and Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Fought between France and Spain against Great Britain
Commanders Rear-Admiral Joseph de Richery and José Solano y Bote (France and Spain); Sir James Wallace (Britain)
Forces Franco-Spanish: 17 ships of the line, 3 frigates, 1,500 regular troops and about 7,000 sailors. British: 1 ship of the line, 2 frigates and 2 sloops.
Losses French and Spanish: unknown. British: about 600 captured and 127 merchant vessels captured, sunk or destroyed.
Result Franco-Spanish victory
Richery's squadron sailed from Cádiz with a Spanish escort under Solano. Finding St. John's defended, with a boom and fireships prepared, Richery landed instead at Bay Bulls on 4 September and burnt it. The fleet then destroyed fishing vessels and stations along the coast, including Placentia Bay, and lingered at Saint Pierre and Miquelon before sailing home.
Why it is remembered It did heavy damage to the Newfoundland fisheries and caused great alarm in England.
Sources differ One account describes the combined squadron as 20 vessels; another account gives 17 ships of the line and 3 frigates.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Action of 13 January 1797 Single-ship action
Also known as Naufrage du Droits de l'Homme
13 to 14 January 1797 · Off the coast of Brittany, Bay of Biscay
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Captain Sir Edward Pellew and Robert Reynolds, captured (Britain); Jean-Baptiste Raymond de Lacrosse (France)
Forces British: the 44-gun HMS Indefatigable and the 36-gun HMS Amazon. French: the 74-gun Droits de l'Homme.
Ships HMS Indefatigable, HMS Amazon, Droits de l'Homme
Losses British: 3 killed, 34 wounded, 6 drowned, 250 captured, Amazon wrecked. French: 253 killed or wounded, 400 to 900 drowned, Droits de l'Homme wrecked.
Result British victory
Returning from the failed expedition to Ireland, Droits de l'Homme was caught by two British frigates off Ushant. They fought for more than 15 hours in a rising gale; the seas were so high that the French ship could not open her lower gun ports. Badly damaged, she lost control and was driven onto a sandbar and destroyed. Amazon also ran aground trying to claw off the lee shore.
Why it is remembered Between 400 and 1,000 of the 1,300 people aboard Droits de l'Homme died.
Sources differ One account gives French deaths as between 400 and 1,000; another account gives 253 killed or wounded and 400 to 900 drowned.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Léopold Le Guen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Anglo-Spanish War (1796 to 1808), War of the First Coalition
Action of 25 January 1797 Single-ship action
Also known as Acción del 25 de enero de 1797
25 January 1797 · Gulf of Cádiz, Spain
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders George Stewart, 8th Earl of Galloway (Britain); Captain Alonso de Torres y Guerra (Spain)
Forces British: 3 fifth rate frigates and 1 sixth rate sloop. Spanish: the third rate ship of the line San Francisco de Asís.
Ships San Francisco de Asís
Losses British: unknown, ships badly damaged. Spanish: 2 killed, 12 wounded.
Result Spanish victory
A British squadron of three frigates and a corvette attacked and chased the Spanish 74 San Francisco de Asís for several hours. After an intermittent but fierce exchange of fire the damaged British ships withdrew, and San Francisco de Asís returned to Cádiz with only minor damage.
Why it is remembered Torres y Guerra was promoted for his success. A painting of the action hangs in the Naval Museum of Madrid.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Anglo-Spanish War, War of the First Coalition
Action of 26 April 1797 Convoy battle
26 April 1797 · Conil Bay, off Conil de la Frontera, Spain
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders Captain George Martin (Britain)
Forces British: the ship of the line HMS Irresistible and the frigate HMS Emerald. Spanish: the frigates Santa Elena and Ninfa.
Ships HMS Irresistible, HMS Emerald, Santa Elena, Ninfa
Losses British: 1 killed, 1 wounded. Spanish: 18 killed, 30 wounded, Santa Elena wrecked and Ninfa captured.
Result British victory
Two Spanish frigates carrying treasure from Havana to Cádiz were caught by ships of the British blockade and chased into rocky Conil Bay, where they surrendered after a brief fight. Santa Elena was wrecked on the shore and Ninfa was captured.
Why it is remembered The treasure had been taken off by a Spanish fishing boat before the battle and escaped capture. Ninfa was recommissioned in the Royal Navy.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Dr. Blofeld, based on work by Miguillen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Anglo-Spanish War, War of the First Coalition
Assault on Cádiz Landing or siege
June to July 1797 · Cádiz, Spain
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders Rear Admiral Horatio Nelson and Lord Jervis (Britain); José de Mazarredo and Federico Gravina (Spain)
Forces British: Jervis's fleet and Nelson's inshore squadron. Spanish: forts, batteries and gunboats (fuerzas sutiles).
Ships HMS Victory
Losses British: 3 armed boats sunk, Victory's launch driven ashore. Spanish: 3 armed boats captured.
Result Spanish victory
After Cape St. Vincent the British blockaded Cádiz and bombarded the city in early June, doing slight damage, to force Mazarredo's fleet out. The Spanish built gunboats and small craft to guard the harbour entrance. After a series of failed attacks led by Nelson, and under heavy fire from the forts, the British withdrew in early July.
Why it is remembered The blockade of Cádiz itself lasted until 1802. Thomas Buttersworth painted Nelson's inshore squadron.
Sources differ One account gives June 1797; another account gives June to July 1797.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Buttersworth, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars (East Indies theatre)
Bali Strait incident Other action
28 January 1797 · Entrance to the Bali Strait, Dutch East Indies
Fought between East India Company against France
Commanders Commodore James Farquharson (East India Company); Contre-amiral Pierre César Charles de Sercey (France)
Forces East India Company: 6 East Indiamen, among them Alfred. French: 6 frigates.
Ships Alfred, Forte
Losses None on either side. One East Indiaman was wrecked in a storm in the Flores Sea the next day.
Result British success: the French withdrew
Six East Indiamen bound for China met Sercey's frigate squadron at the entrance to the Bali Strait. Knowing he could not outrun the French, Farquharson bluffed, forming his merchant ships in line of battle as if they were ships of the line. Sercey, ordered not to risk his squadron, retreated and returned to Île de France, where he learned of his mistake.
Why it is remembered A convoy of merchant ships escaped a superior naval squadron by bluff alone.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Jean-Baptiste d'Après de Mannevillette, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Battle of Camperdown Fleet battle
Also known as Zeeslag bij Kamperduin
11 October 1797 · Off Camperduin, Dutch coast, North Sea
Fought between Great Britain against the Batavian Republic
Commanders Admiral Adam Duncan and Vice-admiral Richard Onslow (Britain); Vice-admiral Jan Willem de Winter, surrendered, Hermanus Reijntjes and Bloys van Treslong (Batavian Republic)
Forces British: 16 ships of the line, 2 frigates, 1 sloop, 4 cutters and 1 lugger. Batavian: 15 ships of the line, 6 frigates, 4 brigs and 1 aviso.
Ships HMS Venerable, HMS Monarch, Vrijheid, Jupiter, Haarlem, Alkmaar, Delft, Wassenaar, Hercules, Gelijkheid, Admiraal Tjerk Hiddes De Vries, Monnikkendam, Ambuscade
Losses British: 203 killed, 622 wounded. Batavian: 540 killed, 620 wounded, 3,775 captured, 9 ships of the line and 2 frigates captured.
Result British victory
De Winter took the Batavian fleet to sea while Duncan was resupplying at Yarmouth, and Duncan caught it off Camperduin on its return. Attacking in two groups, the British broke the Batavian line at the rear and van; the rear was overwhelmed and the flagships fought it out to windward. De Winter's Vrijheid and ten other ships struck. Gales on the voyage home wrecked two prizes.
Why it is remembered It broke the Batavian Navy as an independent force and was the most significant British and Batavian battle of the war. Duncan was made Viscount Duncan of Camperdown, and the battle was painted by Whitcombe, Loutherbourg and others.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Anglo-Spanish War, War of the First Coalition
Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1797) Fleet battle
14 February 1797 · Off Cape St. Vincent, Portugal
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders Admiral Sir John Jervis, William Waldegrave, Charles Thompson, William Parker, Commodore Horatio Nelson (wounded) (Britain); José de Córdoba y Ramos, Francisco Javier Morales, Francisco Winthuysen (killed), Juan de Mondragón, Conde de Amblimont (killed) (Spain)
Forces British: 15 ships of the line, 5 frigates, 1 sloop and 1 cutter. Spanish: 25 ships of the line, 7 frigates, 1 brig and 4 merchantmen.
Ships HMS Victory, HMS Captain, HMS Culloden, HMS Excellent, HMS Orion, HMS Irresistible, Santísima Trinidad, San Nicolás, San José, Salvador del Mundo, San Ysidro
Losses British: 73 killed, 227 wounded. Spanish: 430 killed, 856 wounded, 3,000 captured, 4 ships of the line captured.
Result British victory
Jervis's fleet met Córdoba's larger Spanish fleet off Cape St. Vincent. Nelson took HMS Captain out of the line to block the Spanish, then boarded San Nicolás and crossed from her to capture San José. The British took four ships of the line, and the Spanish fleet returned to Cádiz, where it was blockaded until 1802.
Why it is remembered Jervis was made Earl St. Vincent and Nelson was knighted; Nelson's double boarding became known as his patent bridge for boarding enemy vessels. Córdoba was dismissed. George Jones painted Nelson boarding the San Josef.
Sources differ The fourth prize is named San Isidro or San Ysidro in different parts of the main account.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Robert Cleveley, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Battle of Fishguard Landing or siege
Also known as Last invasion of mainland Britain
22 to 24 February 1797 · Near Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Lord Cawdor and Thomas Knox (Britain); Colonel William Tate, captured, and Jean-Joseph Castagnier (France)
Forces British: 300 reservists, 250 militia and 150 sailors. French: 600 regulars, 800 irregulars, 2 frigates, 1 corvette and 1 lugger.
Losses British: light. French: 33 killed or wounded, 1,360 captured, 1 frigate and 1 corvette captured.
Result British victory
As part of Hoche's plan to support the United Irishmen, a French force under Colonel William Tate landed in Wales, aiming to march on Bristol. After brief clashes with hastily gathered British forces and local people, Tate surrendered unconditionally on 24 February. In a related naval action the British captured a frigate and a corvette of the expedition.
Why it is remembered It is the most recent landing on British soil by a hostile foreign force and is often called the last invasion of mainland Britain.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Baker, James, 18th. cent Bluck, J., fl. 1791 to 1819, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition and Haitian Revolution
Battle of Jean-Rabel Raid
15 to 21 April 1797 · Moustique Inlet and Jean-Rabel, north coast of Saint-Domingue (Haiti)
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders William Ogilvy and Hugh Pigot (Britain); Commander Simon Billiette (France)
Forces British: the ships of the line HMS Thunderer and HMS Valiant, then a squadron of three frigates and two smaller vessels. French: the frigate Harmonie.
Ships HMS Thunderer, HMS Valiant, Harmonie
Losses British: none. French: Harmonie destroyed, 9 merchant ships captured.
Result British victory
Two British ships of the line attacked and destroyed the French frigate Harmonie in Moustique Inlet. Four days later boats from a British frigate squadron attacked Jean-Rabel itself and took many merchant ships that French privateers had seized.
Why it is remembered It reduced privateering and secured British control of the northern Caribbean sea lanes, though Britain withdrew from Saint-Domingue later that year.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Ozanne, Jna. Fca. (Jeanne Françoise), 1735 to 1795, engraver; Ozanne, Nicolas-Marie, 1728 to 1811, artist, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the First Coalition
Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1797) Landing or siege
22 to 25 July 1797 · Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson, wounded (Britain); Antonio Gutiérrez de Otero y Santayana (Spain)
Forces British: 4,000 regulars and sailors, 3 ships of the line, 1 fourth rate, 3 frigates, 1 cutter and 1 bomb vessel, 400 guns. Spanish: 1,700 regulars, militia and sailors with 91 guns.
Losses British: 250 dead, 128 wounded, about 300 captured, 1 cutter sunk. Spanish: 30 dead, 40 wounded.
Result Spanish victory
Nelson launched an amphibious assault on the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife on 22 July 1797. The attack was defeated, and on 25 July the survivors of the landing party withdrew under a truce, having lost several hundred men.
Why it is remembered Nelson was wounded in the arm, which was partly amputated, a lasting reminder of his failure. The British attack was painted in 1848.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Francisco de Aguilar, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Anglo-Spanish War, War of the First Coalition
Capture of Trinidad Landing or siege
Also known as Invasion of Trinidad
18 to 21 February 1797 · Trinidad
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders Sir Ralph Abercromby and Henry Harvey (Britain); Governor José María Chacón and Sebastián de Apodaca, both surrendered (Spain)
Forces British: 10,000 soldiers and marines, 9 ships of the line, 3 frigates, 3 post ships and 3 sloops. Spanish: 2,500 soldiers, marines and sailors, 4 ships of the line and 1 frigate.
Losses British: 1 killed. Spanish: 2,500 deserted or captured, 1 ship of the line captured, 3 ships of the line and 1 frigate scuttled.
Result British victory
After Spain allied with France, a British fleet of 18 warships invaded Trinidad. The Spanish scuttled most of their squadron, and within a few days Governor Chacón surrendered the island to Abercromby.
Why it is remembered Trinidad passed into British hands; the same expedition was repelled at Puerto Rico.
Sources differ One account dates the invasion to 18 February 1797, another account to 21 February, and a painting caption to 17 February.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Nicholas Pocock, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Second Coalition
Action of 14 December 1798 Single-ship action
Also known as Combat de l'HMS Ambuscade contre la Bayonnaise
14 December 1798 · Off the Gironde, Bay of Biscay
Fought between France against Great Britain
Commanders Jean Richer (France); Henry Jenkins (Britain)
Forces French: the 24-gun corvette Bayonnaise. British: the 32-gun frigate HMS Ambuscade.
Ships Bayonnaise, HMS Ambuscade
Losses French: 25 killed, 30 wounded. British: 15 killed, 39 wounded, Ambuscade captured.
Result French victory
The corvette Bayonnaise, outgunned and outmanoeuvred by the frigate HMS Ambuscade, boarded her and captured her.
Why it is remembered Louis-Philippe Crépin painted the fight in 1801.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Louis-Philippe Crépin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Anglo-Spanish War, French Revolutionary Wars
Action of 15 July 1798 Single-ship action
Also known as Combate de Cartagena (1798)
15 July 1798 · Off Cartagena, Spain
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders Captain Manley Dixon (Britain); Commodore Felix O'Neil (Spain)
Forces British: the ship of the line HMS Lion. Spanish: 4 frigates.
Ships HMS Lion, Santa Dorotea
Losses British: 2 wounded. Spanish: 20 killed, 32 wounded, Santa Dorotea captured.
Result British victory
HMS Lion met a Spanish frigate squadron returning to Cartagena from an unsuccessful raid. O'Neil failed to co-ordinate his ships, and Santa Dorotea fell out of line and was attacked and quickly forced to surrender, while the other frigates fired ineffectually at long range and then turned for port.
Why it is remembered Santa Dorotea was bought into the Royal Navy. The Spanish made no further expeditions into the Mediterranean that year. Thomas Whitcombe illustrated the capture.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars (Mediterranean campaign of 1798)
Action of 18 August 1798 Single-ship action
Also known as Combat du Généreux et du HMS Leander
18 August 1798 · Off the western shore of Crete
Fought between France against Great Britain
Commanders Captain Louis-Jean-Nicolas Lejoille (France); Captain Thomas Thompson, wounded (Britain)
Forces French: the ship of the line Généreux. British: the fourth rate HMS Leander, with Captain Edward Berry aboard as a passenger.
Ships Généreux, HMS Leander
Losses French: 100 killed, 188 wounded. British: 35 killed, 57 wounded, Leander captured.
Result French victory
Leander was carrying Nelson's despatches after the Battle of the Nile when she was caught off Crete by Généreux, one of the four French survivors of that battle. They fought from 09:00; a French boarding attempt at 10:30 was beaten off with heavy loss, but after another five hours the dismasted Leander surrendered. Lejoille's men looted the prisoners and forced them to help sail Leander to Corfu.
Why it is remembered Lejoille was praised in France but condemned in Britain for his conduct, while Thompson and Berry were knighted. A Russian squadron retook Leander at Corfu in 1799 and the Tsar returned her to Britain; Généreux was captured off Malta in 1800.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Charles Henry Seaforth, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars (Irish Rebellion of 1798)
Action of 24 October 1798 Single-ship action
24 October 1798 · North Sea, 30 nautical miles north west of the Texel
Fought between Great Britain against the Batavian Republic
Commanders Captain Richard King (Britain); Meindert van Neirop (Batavian Republic)
Forces British: the frigate HMS Sirius. Batavian: the frigate Furie and the corvette Waakzaamheid, carrying troops and military supplies.
Ships HMS Sirius, Furie, Waakzaamheid
Losses British: 1 wounded. Batavian: 8 killed, 14 wounded, Furie and Waakzaamheid captured.
Result British victory
Two Dutch ships carrying French soldiers and supplies for the Irish rebellion were caught hours after leaving the Texel, two miles apart. Sirius ran down the smaller Waakzaamheid, which surrendered without a fight, then overhauled Furie, which surrendered within half an hour.
Why it is remembered It ended the last continental attempt to land soldiers in Ireland and was the last action of the Irish Rebellion. Thomas Whitcombe painted the capture.
Sources differ Thomas Whitcombe's painting is captioned 23 October; the main account gives 24 October 1798.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars (Mediterranean campaign of 1798)
Action of 27 June 1798 Single-ship action
27 June 1798 · Strait of Sicily
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Captain Edward Foote (Britain); Frigate Captain Guillaume-François-Joseph Bourdé, surrendered (France)
Forces British: the 38-gun frigate HMS Seahorse. French: the 32-gun frigate Sensible, carrying wounded troops and loot from Malta.
Ships HMS Seahorse, Sensible
Losses British: 2 killed, 16 wounded. French: 25 killed, 55 wounded, Sensible captured.
Result British victory
Seahorse, on her way to join Nelson, sighted Sensible on 26 June and chased her for 12 hours. Catching the overladen French frigate, she inflicted heavy casualties until Sensible struck.
Why it is remembered It gave the British the first conclusive evidence that the French meant to invade Egypt, though Foote could not find Nelson before the Battle of the Nile. James E. Buttersworth painted the action.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: James E. Buttersworth, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars
Action of 30 June 1798 Single-ship action
29 to 30 June 1798 · Bay of Biscay, off La Tranche-sur-Mer, Vendée coast
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Charles Stirling (Britain); Julien Bigot (France)
Forces British: the frigates HMS Jason, HMS Pique and HMS Mermaid. French: the 40-gun frigate Seine, carrying 280 soldiers from Île de France.
Ships HMS Jason, HMS Pique, HMS Mermaid, Seine
Losses British: 9 killed, 18 wounded, Pique wrecked. French: 170 killed, 100 wounded, Seine captured.
Result British victory
Seine, returning from the Indian Ocean, was spotted by the inshore squadron off Brittany. Pique caught her at 23:00 and they fought for over two and a half hours. Chasing on through the night, all three frigates ran onto the sandbanks off La Tranche-sur-Mer and kept firing while aground until Mermaid arrived and Seine surrendered. Pique could not be refloated and was burnt.
Why it is remembered Casualties on the crowded decks of Seine were very heavy. John Fairburn published a print of Jason capturing Seine in 1798.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: John Fairburn, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars
Action of 30 May 1798 Single-ship action
30 to 31 May 1798 · Off the mouth of the Dives, Normandy, English Channel
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Sir Francis Laforey (Britain); Etienne Pévrieu (France)
Forces British: the fifth rate HMS Hydra, a bomb vessel and a cutter. French: the corvettes Confiante and Vésuve and a cutter.
Ships HMS Hydra, Confiante, Vésuve
Losses British: none. French: Confiante destroyed.
Result British victory
A British blockading force caught two French ships trying to slip from Le Havre to Cherbourg. After a brief exchange both ran ashore near the mouth of the Dives. Boarding parties burnt the badly damaged Confiante the next morning, while troops on shore protected Vésuve until she could be taken into Sallenelles.
Why it is remembered Thomas Whitcombe painted the capture of Confiante in 1816.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Second Coalition
Siege of Corfu (1798 to 1799) Landing or siege
4 November 1798 to 3 March 1799 · Corfu, Ionian Islands
Fought between Russia, the Ottoman Empire and the Pashalik of Yanina against France
Commanders Fyodor Ushakov and Ivan Selivachev (Russia); Kadir Bey and Ali Pasha of Ioannina (Ottoman); Louis Chabot, surrendered (France)
Forces Allied: 6,200 to 8,000 men, 12 ships of the line, 11 frigates and smaller vessels. French: 3,700 to 4,000 men, 150 coastal guns, 2 ships of the line, 1 frigate, 1 bomb vessel, 1 brig and 4 small vessels.
Ships Leander
Losses Allied: 300 to 400 killed and wounded. French: 700 to 1,000 killed, wounded or captured, 2,931 capitulated, 1 ship of the line, 1 frigate and 15 other vessels captured, 636 guns and mortars taken.
Result Russo-Ottoman victory
A joint Russian and Turkish fleet under Ushakov besieged the French garrison in the fortified island of Corfu, whose defences were in poor condition. The garrison capitulated on 3 March 1799.
Why it is remembered The Russians recovered the captured British ship Leander at Corfu and returned her to Britain.
Sources differ French killed and wounded are given as 500 killed and wounded plus 500 captured by one source, and 700 lost by another.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: André Grasset de Saint-Sauveur, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars (Mediterranean campaign of 1798)
French invasion of Malta Landing or siege
10 to 12 June 1798 · Malta and Gozo
Fought between France against the Knights Hospitaller of Malta
Commanders Napoleon Bonaparte, with Junot, Desaix, Baraguey d'Hilliers, Vaubois and Reynier (France); Grand Master Ferdinand von Hompesch, who surrendered (Order of St John)
Result French victory; the Order capitulated
Bonaparte's expedition landed on Malta and Gozo and met some resistance from the Order and the Maltese militia. In less than a day the French held the whole archipelago except the fortified harbour area around Valletta. Discontent among the Order's French members and the Maltese population led to a truce and then to the Order's capitulation.
Why it is remembered It ended 268 years of Hospitaller rule in Malta. A Maltese uprising followed, and the two-year blockade of the French garrison ended with its surrender to the British in 1800 and the start of 164 years of British rule.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: GOTTFRIED BAUMANN & CO., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars
Battle of the Îles Saint-Marcouf Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of St Marcou
7 May 1798 · Îles Saint-Marcouf, off the Cotentin coast, Normandy
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Charles Price (Britain); A. M. Muskein (France)
Forces British: a garrison of 500. French: 5,000 to 6,000 men in 52 vessels, over 50 of them landing craft.
Losses British: 1 killed, 4 wounded. French: 900 killed or drowned, 300 wounded, 500 captured, 6 to 7 vessels sunk.
Result British victory
The French launched a massed amphibious assault with new landing craft against the British garrison on the southern island, which supplied Royal Navy patrols. Wind and tide kept British warships away, but shore batteries and musket fire stopped any French soldier from landing and killed nearly 1,000 men in the boats, and fire from the northern island added to the losses as they withdrew.
Why it is remembered The French had been testing equipment and tactics meant for an invasion of Britain. Afterwards the British closely blockaded the Cotentin ports.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Quasi-War
Capture of La Croyable Single-ship action
Also known as Action of 7 July 1798; USS Delaware vs La Croyable
7 July 1798 · Great Egg Harbor Bay, New Jersey
Fought between United States against France
Commanders Captain Stephen Decatur, Sr. (United States); French commander unknown
Forces American: the sloop of war USS Delaware, 180 men and 20 guns. French: the privateer schooner La Croyable, 70 men and 12 to 14 guns.
Ships USS Delaware, La Croyable, Alexander Hamilton
Losses None on either side. La Croyable captured.
Result American victory
On her first day at sea Delaware learned that a French privateer had ransacked the merchant ship Alexander Hamilton. Posing as a merchant vessel, she drew La Croyable into pursuit; when the French realised their mistake they fled, but were pinned against the shore of Great Egg Harbor Bay and surrendered after a few shots.
Why it is remembered It was the first capture of any ship by the new United States Navy. La Croyable became USS Retaliation, the only American naval vessel captured by the French in the Quasi-War.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Second Coalition
Siege of Malta (1798 to 1800) Blockade and raiding
Also known as Siege of Valletta; French blockade; L-Imblokk tal-Franċiżi
2 September 1798 to 4 September 1800 · Valletta and the Three Cities, Malta
Fought between Maltese insurgents, Great Britain and Portugal against France
Commanders Emmanuele Vitale, Francesco Caruana, Vincenzo Borg (Malta); Horatio Nelson and Alexander Ball (Britain); Domingos Xavier, Marquess of Nisa (Portugal); Claude-Henri Belgrand de Vaubois, surrendered, Jean-Baptiste Perrée, killed, Pierre-Charles Villeneuve, surrendered (France)
Forces Allied: about 10,000 Maltese, 16 British ships and 5 Portuguese ships. French: 6,000 to 7,000.
Ships Guillaume Tell
Losses Maltese: 300. British: light. French: 4,000 surrendered and 2,000 killed, wounded, sick or dead of disease. About 20,000 Maltese civilians died of disease.
Result Allied victory
After the Nile, British and Portuguese ships blockaded the French garrison in Valletta while the Maltese rose against French rule. Starvation and disease wore down the garrison. A relief convoy under Perrée was destroyed in February 1800, and in March the ship of the line Guillaume Tell was caught and forced to surrender after breaking out. Vaubois surrendered on 4 September 1800.
Why it is remembered It led to the British Malta Protectorate.
Sources differ One account gives the French garrison as 3,000; another account gives 6,000 to 7,000.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: www.timesofmalta.com, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Anglo-Spanish War, French Revolutionary Wars
Raid on Manila Raid
January 1798 (arrival 13 January) · Manila Bay and the mouth of the Pasig River, Spanish Philippines
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders Captain Edward Cooke and Captain Pulteney Malcolm (Britain); Ignacio María de Álava (Spain)
Forces British: the frigates HMS Sybille and HMS Fox. Spanish: unknown.
Ships HMS Sybille, HMS Fox
Losses British: 6 killed, 16 wounded. Spanish: 1 killed, 4 wounded, 3 gunboats captured.
Result Spanish gunboats captured; the treasure ship had already been unloaded and was not taken
After escorting a convoy to China, Cooke took two frigates into Manila Bay disguised as French ships. He lured boatloads of Spanish officials aboard and took them prisoner, learning that the treasure ship had been unloaded and the Spanish squadron was under repair. His boats then took a squadron of gunboats at the mouth of the Pasig River without bloodshed. He released his prisoners and later made an unsuccessful attack on Zamboanga.
Why it is remembered It was a false flag operation to protect the vital China Fleet.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Emmanuel Roquette, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Second Coalition (Mediterranean campaign of 1798)
Capture of Minorca (1798) Landing or siege
Also known as Capture of Menorca
7 to 15 November 1798 · Menorca, Balearic Islands
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders Captain John Duckworth and Colonel Charles Stuart (Britain); Governor Juan Nepomuceno de Quesada, surrendered (Spain)
Forces British: 6,000 troops and 20 warships. Spanish: over 4,284 troops and 8 frigates.
Losses British: unknown. Spanish: 4,284 captured, 4 frigates captured, killed and wounded unknown.
Result British victory
A British expedition landed on Menorca on 7 November 1798 and, after several skirmishes, forced the outnumbered Spanish garrison to surrender by 15 November.
Why it is remembered Britain held the island for almost four years as a major naval base, returning it to Spain under the Treaty of Amiens in 1802.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: John Thomas Serres, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars (Mediterranean campaign of 1798, French invasion of Egypt)
Battle of the Nile Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Aboukir Bay; Bataille d'Aboukir
1 to 3 August 1798 · Aboukir Bay, about 20 miles north east of Alexandria, Egypt
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Rear-Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson, wounded (Britain); Vice-admiral François-Paul Brueys d'Aigalliers, killed (France)
Forces British: 14 ships of the line and 1 sloop. French: 13 ships of the line and 4 frigates.
Ships HMS Vanguard, HMS Goliath, HMS Culloden, Orient, Guerrier, Conquérant, Spartiate, Aquilon, Peuple Souverain, Tonnant, Heureux, Mercure, Généreux, Sérieuse
Losses British: 218 killed, 677 wounded. French: 2,000 to 5,000 killed or wounded, 3,000 to 3,900 captured, 9 ships of the line captured, 1 destroyed and 1 scuttled, 1 frigate sunk and 1 scuttled.
Result Decisive British victory
After landing Napoleon's army in Egypt, Brueys anchored his fleet in Aboukir Bay. Nelson arrived late on 1 August and attacked at once. One British division, led by HMS Goliath, passed between the French line and the shore while the other engaged from seaward, catching the French van in a crossfire. At about 22:00 the flagship Orient blew up, and only two ships of the line and two frigates escaped from the 17 French ships engaged.
Why it is remembered It left the Royal Navy dominant in the Mediterranean, trapped Napoleon's army in Egypt and helped bring on the War of the Second Coalition. Nelson was made Baron Nelson, and Felicia Hemans' 1826 poem Casabianca keeps the battle in popular memory.
Sources differ French killed and wounded range from 2,000 to 5,000 and captured from 3,000 to 3,900. A history of the campaign says eleven French ships of the line and two frigates were eliminated.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: George Arnald, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars (blockade of Brest)
Battle of the Raz de Sein Single-ship action
21 April 1798 · Mouth of the Raz de Sein, near Brest, Brittany
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Captain Alexander Hood, killed (Britain); Captain Louis Lhéritier, surrendered (France)
Forces One British 74, HMS Mars, against one French 74, Hercule
Ships HMS Mars, Hercule
Losses British: 22 killed, 60 wounded, 8 missing. French: 290 killed or wounded, Hercule captured.
Result British victory
Hercule, newly commissioned at Lorient and bound for Brest, was chased by ships of Bridport's blockading fleet. Unable to pass the Raz de Sein against the tide, Lhéritier anchored and waited. At 21:15 Mars ran alongside, and for more than an hour the two ships fired into each other so close that the guns could not be run out. Hood was mortally wounded, and Hercule surrendered after her attempts to board failed.
Why it is remembered It is a rare example of a fight between two ships of about equal strength with no outside help. Hercule served in the Royal Navy until 1810. John Christian Schetky painted the battle.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: John Christian Schetky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French invasion of Egypt and Syria
Battle of Shubra Khit Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Chobrakit; Battle of Chebreïss
13 July 1798 · Shubra Khit, on the Nile, Egypt
Fought between France against the Ottoman Empire (Mamluks)
Commanders Napoleon and Jean-Baptiste Perrée (France); Murad Bey and Nicola the Greek, Nile flotilla (Ottoman)
Forces French: 23,000 men, 3 gunboats, 1 xebec, 1 galley and 20 smaller vessels (7 in action). Ottoman: 16,000 men and 7 gunboats.
Losses French: 420 to 520 killed or wounded, 3 vessels lost. Ottoman: 700 to 800 killed or wounded, 1 gunboat destroyed and 6 scuttled.
Result French victory
On the march to Cairo the French army met Murad Bey's Mamluk cavalry and infantry and formed squares that the cavalry could not break. On the river a French flotilla under Perrée fought and repelled the Ottoman Nile flotilla.
Why it is remembered It was the second major engagement of the French invasion of Egypt.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Carle Vernet, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Anglo-Spanish War, French Revolutionary Wars
Battle of St. George's Caye Fleet battle
3 to 10 September 1798 · St. George's Caye, off the coast of British Honduras (Belize)
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders John Moss and Thomas Barrow (Britain); Arturo O'Neill (Spain)
Forces British: 13 vessels (4 sloops, 2 schooners and 7 gunboats), 700 troops and armed slaves. Spanish: 35 vessels and 2,500 soldiers and sailors.
Losses Unknown on both sides.
Result British victory
A Spanish force of 35 vessels attempted to take the British settlement off the coast of Belize. The fighting lasted from 3 to 10 September, and the Spanish were defeated in the final battle on 10 September.
Why it is remembered It was the last Spanish attempt to take the area, and St. George's Caye Day is a national public and bank holiday in Belize.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars (Irish Rebellion of 1798)
Battle of Tory Island Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Donegal; Battle of Lough Swilly; Warren's Action
12 October 1798 · Off Tory Island, County Donegal, Ireland
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Sir John Borlase Warren (Britain); Jean Bompart, surrendered (France)
Forces British: 3 ships of the line and 5 frigates. French: 1 ship of the line and 9 frigates.
Losses British: 15 killed, 72 wounded. French: 460 killed or wounded, 1 ship of the line and 3 frigates captured.
Result British victory
A French squadron carrying reinforcements for the Irish rebellion left Brest unaware that Humbert's force had already surrendered. After a long chase the British caught it off the Donegal coast and defeated it piecemeal, taking four ships. Frigate patrols took three more over the next fortnight; of ten French ships only two frigates and a schooner got home.
Why it is remembered It was the last French attempt to invade any part of the British Isles. Wolfe Tone was recognised aboard the captured French flagship, arrested, tried for treason and died in prison in Dublin.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Nicholas Pocock (1799), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Barbary to Portuguese conflicts
Action of 15 August 1799 Convoy battle
15 August 1799 · Mediterranean Sea
Fought between Regency of Algiers against Portugal
Commanders Haji Muhammad Tabah (Algiers); Inácio P. Pinto, captured (Portugal)
Forces Algerian: 1 armed vessel with 350 men. Portuguese: 1 brigantine escorting merchant vessels (3 yachts per the main account).
Losses Portuguese: the brigantine captured, 1 yacht sunk or captured, over 70 men captured. Algerian: unknown.
Result Algerian victory
A Portuguese brigantine sailing with merchant ships was intercepted by an Algerian ship. The brigantine and a merchant ship were captured.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Anglo-Spanish War, War of the Second Coalition
Action of 16 October 1799 Blockade and raiding
16 to 17 October 1799 · Off Vigo and Muros, Galicia, Spain
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders William Pierrepont (Britain); Juan de Mendoza and Antonio Pillon, both surrendered (Spain)
Forces British: 4 frigates, including HMS Naiad and HMS Ethalion. Spanish: the treasure frigates Thetis and Santa Brígida.
Ships HMS Naiad, HMS Ethalion, Thetis, Santa Brígida
Losses British: 1 killed, 10 wounded. Spanish: 3 killed, 17 wounded, both frigates captured.
Result British victory
Two Spanish frigates carrying silver and trade goods from Spanish America were sighted by HMS Naiad near Vigo and soon surrounded by British frigates. They split up: Ethalion took Thetis after a short fight on 16 October, and Santa Brígida was caught among the rocks near Muros on the morning of 17 October.
Why it is remembered The cargoes, worth at least £618,040, were paraded to the Bank of England and produced one of the largest prize awards ever made. Thomas Whitcombe painted Ethalion engaging Thetis.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Second Coalition
Action of 18 June 1799 Fleet battle
18 June 1799 · Off Toulon, Mediterranean Sea
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Lord Keith and John Markham (Britain); Counter-admiral Jean-Baptiste Perrée (France)
Forces British: 3 ships of the line and 2 frigates detached from Keith's fleet of 30 ships. French: 3 frigates and 2 brigs.
Losses British: unknown. French: 3 frigates and 2 brigs captured.
Result British victory
Perrée's squadron, returning to Toulon from Syria, ran into Lord Keith's fleet. After a running fight of 28 hours, the British detachment overhauled the French frigates and brigs, which surrendered to the overwhelming force.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Lawrence, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Anglo-Spanish War, French Revolutionary Wars
Action of 19 January 1799 Convoy battle
19 January 1799 · Off Punta Europa, Strait of Gibraltar
Fought between Spain against Great Britain
Commanders Francisco Mourelle de la Rúa (Spain); British commander unknown
Forces Spanish: 1 mistico and 14 gunboats. British: 1 third rate of 74 guns, 1 gun-brig, 3 gunboats, 4 merchant ships and 3 merchant brigs.
Losses British: 1 gunboat sunk, 1 gunboat captured, 1 merchant ship and 2 merchant brigs captured, 120 prisoners. Spanish: minor.
Result Spanish victory
A Spanish squadron of 14 gunboats led by a mistico attacked a British convoy off Punta Europa. The escorts failed to protect it, losing two gunboats, and three merchant vessels were taken.
Why it is remembered Mourelle de la Rúa was promoted to frigate captain for the action.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Florián de Ocampo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars (East Indies theatre)
Action of 28 February 1799 Single-ship action
28 February 1799 · Off the mouth of the Hooghly River, Bay of Bengal
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Captain Edward Cooke, mortally wounded (Britain); Hubert Le Loup de Beaulieu, killed (France)
Forces One British frigate, HMS Sybille, against the large French frigate Forte
Ships HMS Sybille, Forte
Losses British: 6 killed, 16 wounded. French: 65 killed, 80 wounded, Forte captured.
Result British victory
Sybille was sent from Madras to stop Forte, which was raiding shipping off Calcutta, and found her at anchor at the mouth of the Hooghly with two captured merchant ships. Beaulieu was killed by the first raking broadside, but Forte's crew fought on for more than two hours until she was a wreck. Cooke was hit by grapeshot and died of his wounds three months later.
Why it is remembered Forte served in the Royal Navy until she was wrecked in the Red Sea two years later. Thomas Whitcombe painted the capture.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Anglo-Spanish War, War of the Second Coalition
Action of 6 February 1799 Single-ship action
6 February 1799 · Off Alcúdia, Majorca
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders Post-Captain James Bowen (Britain); Pablo Pérez (Spain)
Forces British: the ship of the line HMS Leviathan and the frigate HMS Argo. Spanish: the frigates Santa Theresa and Proserpine.
Ships HMS Leviathan, HMS Argo, Santa Theresa, Proserpine
Losses British: unknown. Spanish: 530 captured, Santa Theresa captured.
Result British victory
A British force under James Bowen attacked two Spanish frigates near Alcúdia and captured Santa Theresa.
Sources differ One account gives 6 February 1799; another gives 6 May 1799.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Buttersworth, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (as given by the source)
Action of 7 July 1799 Single-ship action
7 July 1799 · Bay of Gibraltar
Fought between Spain against Great Britain
Commanders Lieutenant Frederick Lewis Maitland, captured (Britain); Spanish commander unknown
Forces Spanish: the 34-gun frigate Nuestra Señora del Carmen. British: the 18-gun hired armed cutter Penelope.
Ships Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Penelope
Losses British: Penelope captured. Spanish: unknown.
Result Spanish victory
The Spanish frigate Nuestra Señora del Carmen captured the British hired armed cutter Penelope under Lieutenant Frederick Lewis Maitland in the Bay of Gibraltar.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Nicholas Pocock, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars (East Indies theatre)
Action of 9 February 1799 Single-ship action
Also known as Action of 9 February 1799 (South Africa)
9 February 1799 · About 100 nautical miles off the south east coast of present-day Natal, South Africa, Indian Ocean
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Captain Henry Lidgbird Ball (Britain); Emanuel-Hippolite Le Jolliff, surrendered (France)
Forces The British frigate HMS Daedalus against the 32-gun privateer frigate Prudente
Ships HMS Daedalus, Prudente
Losses British: 2 killed, 11 wounded. French: 27 killed, 22 wounded, Prudente captured.
Result British victory
Prudente, a former navy frigate sold to a private raiding company on Île de France, was attacking British trade off South Africa when HMS Daedalus found her. After a five hour chase Daedalus raked her stern and disabled her, and after another hour at close range Prudente surrendered.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Rear Admiral John William Schmidt (Ret.) (1906, 1981), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French invasion of Egypt and Syria; French Revolutionary Wars
Siege of Acre (1799) Landing or siege
20 March to 21 May 1799 · Acre, Ottoman Syria
Fought between Ottoman Empire and Great Britain against France
Commanders Jazzar Pasha, Haim Farhi (Ottoman); Sidney Smith, Antoine de Phélippeaux (Britain); Napoleon Bonaparte, Jean-Baptiste Kléber (France)
Forces Ottoman and British: a garrison of 5,000, a relief army of 35,000 to 40,000 and two British ships of the line, HMS Tigre and HMS Theseus, with gunboats. French: 12,000 to 13,000.
Ships HMS Tigre, HMS Theseus, Dangereuse, Deux Frères, Foudre, Marie-Rose, Negresse, Torride, Vierge-de-Grâce
Losses Ottoman and British: 2,000. French: 4,000 to 4,500 (2,300 killed, 2,200 wounded or ill); seven gunboats carrying siege artillery captured.
Result Anglo-Ottoman victory
Commodore Sidney Smith captured the French flotilla of gunboats bringing Napoleon's siege artillery from Egypt, and Phélippeaux turned the captured guns against the French. Tigre and Theseus anchored so their broadsides covered the defences while shallower British gunboats worked inshore, helping to repel repeated French assaults, and Ottoman reinforcements from Rhodes landed. After a failed final assault on 10 May, Napoleon retreated on 21 May 1799.
Why it is remembered It was the turning point of Napoleon's invasion of Egypt and Syria, together with the Battle of the Nile, and his first major strategic defeat.
Sources differ French losses are given as 4,000 or 4,500.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Sutherland, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Anglo-Spanish War, War of the Second Coalition
Cutting out of the Hermione Raid
Also known as Capture of Hermione
25 October 1799 · Puerto Cabello, Venezuela
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders Captain Edward Hamilton (Britain); Captain Ramón Echalaz, captured (Spain)
Forces British: about 100 men in boats from the frigate HMS Surprise. Spanish: about 400 men and the frigate Hermione in a heavily guarded port.
Ships HMS Surprise, Hermione
Losses British: 12 wounded. Spanish: 120 killed, 97 wounded, 231 captured, Hermione captured.
Result British victory
HMS Hermione had been handed to the Spanish by her crew after a vicious mutiny and lay in the guarded harbour of Puerto Cabello. Edward Hamilton of HMS Surprise led a boat attack to cut her out and recaptured her.
Why it is remembered It recovered a frigate lost to mutiny. Nicholas Pocock painted the action.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Nicholas Pocock, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars (East Indies theatre)
Macau Incident (1799) Convoy battle
27 January 1799 · Wanshan (Ladrones) Archipelago, off Macau, South China Sea
Fought between Great Britain against Spain and France
Commanders Captain William Hargood (Britain); Ignacio María de Álava (Spain)
Forces British: 2 ships of the line, including HMS Intrepid, and 1 frigate. Franco-Spanish: 2 ships of the line and 4 frigates.
Ships HMS Intrepid
Losses None on either side.
Result Inconclusive; the allied squadron withdrew and the China convoy sailed safely
A Spanish squadron from Manila, joined by two French frigates, sailed to attack the British China convoy gathering at Macau. Hargood, though outnumbered, went out to meet them and chased them through the Wanshan Archipelago until contact was lost. Each side said the other had refused battle.
Why it is remembered Hargood went on to escort the valuable China convoy safely westwards.
Sources differ Both sides claimed that the other refused battle.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars (East Indies theatre)
Battle of Port Louis Single-ship action
11 December 1799 · Mouth of the Tombeau River, near Port Louis, Isle de France (Mauritius)
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Captain John Osborn and Captain William Hotham (Britain); Frigate Captain Jean-Marthe-Adrien l'Hermite, surrendered (France)
Forces British: the 74-gun HMS Tremendous and the 50-gun HMS Adamant. French: the 40-gun frigate Preneuse.
Ships HMS Tremendous, HMS Adamant, Preneuse
Losses British: none. French: Preneuse destroyed.
Result British victory
Returning from a three month raiding cruise, Preneuse was intercepted by the British blockade squadron off Isle de France. L'Hermite drove her onto the beach at the mouth of the Tombeau River. After a brief exchange of fire she surrendered, and British boats took off the survivors and burnt the wreck.
Why it is remembered Preneuse was the last significant French warship in the region; Sercey watched her burn from the shore and retired from service. Auguste Mayer painted the battle.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: JackyM59, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Second Coalition and Barbary to Portuguese conflicts
Portuguese expedition to Tripoli Raid
11 May 1799 · Tripoli, Ottoman Tripolitania
Fought between Portugal against Tripolitania
Commanders Donald Campbell and José Maria de Almeida (Portugal); Yusuf Karamanli (Tripoli)
Forces Portuguese: the 64-gun ship of the line Afonso de Albuquerque with a launch and 3 armed cutters. Tripolitan: 1 polacca of 18 guns.
Ships Afonso de Albuquerque
Losses Portuguese: 1 wounded. Tripolitan: 1 vessel captured and burnt, 25 killed and many wounded.
Result Portuguese victory
Campbell took the ship of the line Afonso de Albuquerque to Tripoli to force the Bey to break with France. After a naval attack on the port, the Bey handed over the French residents and later signed a truce, the Peace of Tripoli.
Why it is remembered The American government praised it as a model for dealing with the Barbary powers, and José Francisco Cardoso celebrated it in a poem in 1800.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: José Francisco Cardoso, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Quasi-War
USS Constellation vs L'Insurgente Single-ship action
Also known as Action of 9 February 1799
9 February 1799 · Off Nevis, Caribbean Sea
Fought between United States against France
Commanders Commodore Thomas Truxtun (United States); Michel-Pierre Barreaut, surrendered (France)
Forces One American frigate, USS Constellation, against one French frigate, L'Insurgente
Ships USS Constellation, L'Insurgente
Losses American: 2 killed, 2 wounded. French: 29 killed, 41 wounded, L'Insurgente captured.
Result American victory
Truxtun, sailing apart from his squadron in his flagship Constellation, met L'Insurgente between Puerto Rico and Saint Kitts. After a chase through a storm he forced an action of an hour and fourteen minutes, with heavy broadsides and musket fire, until the French frigate surrendered.
Why it is remembered L'Insurgente became USS Insurgent, American morale rose, and Truxtun was honoured on his return. John William Schmidt painted the action.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Rear Admiral John William Schmidt (Ret.) (1906, 1981), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland (War of the Second Coalition)
Vlieter incident Other action
30 August 1799 · De Vlieter, between Texel and the mainland, near Wieringen
Fought between Great Britain against the Batavian Republic
Commanders Andrew Mitchell (Britain); Schout-bij-nacht Samuel Story, surrendered (Batavian Republic)
Forces British: 17 ships. Batavian: 8 ships of the line, 3 frigates and 1 sloop.
Losses British: none. Batavian: 8 ships of the line, 3 frigates and 1 sloop surrendered.
Result British victory
During the Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland, the Batavian fleet under Samuel Story surrendered to the Royal Navy in the tidal channel of De Vlieter without a fight.
Why it is remembered A whole fleet was given up without battle. Robert Dodd made an engraving of the scene in 1800.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Robert Dodd, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Quasi-War; War of Knives
Action of 1 January 1800 Convoy battle
1 January 1800 · Bight of Léogâne, near the island of Gonâve, Saint-Domingue (present-day Haiti)
Fought between United States against Haitian picaroons allied to France
Commanders William Maley, David Porter (United States); André Rigaud (picaroons)
Forces 1 armed American schooner escorting 4 merchant ships against 14 armed barges with 400 to 500 picaroons
Ships USS Experiment, Mary
Losses United States: 2 merchant ships captured, 1 killed (the captain of the schooner Mary), 1 wounded. Picaroons: 3 barges sunk, many killed.
Result American victory
On André Rigaud's orders to attack all foreign shipping, a squadron of armed barges attacked the schooner USS Experiment and her convoy of four merchant ships near Gonâve. The picaroons captured two merchant ships before withdrawing, and Experiment saved the other two and escorted them to a friendly port.
Why it is remembered The picaroons suffered heavily but went on attacking American shipping until Rigaud was driven from power by Toussaint L'Ouverture.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: William Bainbridge Hoff, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (as given by the source)
Action of 10 December 1800 Single-ship action
10 December 1800 · Off Ceuta, near the Bay of Gibraltar
Fought between Spain against Great Britain
Commanders Don Miguel Villalba (Spain); Lieutenant Charles Niven, wounded (Britain)
Forces Spanish: the privateer gunboat San Francisco Javier (Poderoso), 3 guns and 43 men. British: the hired armed brig Sir Thomas Pasley, 2 six-pounders and 14 carronades.
Ships San Francisco Javier (Poderoso), Sir Thomas Pasley
Losses British: 3 dead, 8 wounded, the brig captured. Spanish: unknown, minor.
Result Spanish victory
The brig Sir Thomas Pasley, carrying despatches for Lisbon, Gibraltar and Malta, was approached off Ceuta by a Spanish gunboat using sails and sweeps. The gunboat lay astern, and in the calm the British could not bring their bow guns to bear and replied only with small arms. The Spanish boarded at the third attempt and took the prize to Ceuta and then Algeciras.
Why it is remembered Niven, wounded three times, was honourably acquitted at his court-martial.
Sources differ One account gives the brig's crew as 45, another account 58. One account says she left Plymouth on 20 December, after the action date. Another account gives the location as the Bay of Gibraltar, one account as off Ceuta.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Second Coalition
Action of 31 March 1800 Single-ship action
Also known as Capture of the Guillaume Tell
31 March 1800 · Malta Channel, off Malta
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Manley Dixon, Sir Edward Berry (Britain); Denis Decrès (France)
Forces 2 British ships of the line, 1 frigate, 2 brigs and 1 bomb vessel against 1 French ship of the line carrying over 900 men
Ships Guillaume Tell, HMS Penelope, HMS Lion
Losses Britain: 18 killed, 104 wounded. France: 200 killed or wounded, Guillaume Tell captured.
Result British victory
After eighteen months of siege at Valletta, Counter-Admiral Villeneuve sent Counter-Admiral Decrès to sea in the large ship of the line Guillaume Tell to sail for Toulon under cover of darkness on 30 March. The blockading frigate HMS Penelope found her and raked her stern repeatedly, slowing her until Berry's squadron came up. Decrès fought for more than three hours and beat off two British ships before he was forced to surrender.
Why it is remembered Guillaume Tell was the last survivor of the French fleet at the Nile, and her long defence against heavy odds was praised in both Britain and France. The capture is the subject of a painting by Thomas Luny.
Sources differ The main account caption of the Luny painting dates the capture to 30 March 1800, the main account to 31 March 1800.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Luny, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Second Coalition
Action of 4 August 1800 Convoy battle
4 August 1800 · Off Trindade, off the coast of Brazil
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Rowley Bulteel (Britain); Jean-François Landolphe (France)
Forces 1 British ship of the line escorting a merchant convoy, with 8 merchant ships engaged, against 3 French frigates
Ships HMS Belliqueux, Exeter, Concorde, Médée
Losses Britain: none. France: 2 frigates captured.
Result British victory
Landolphe's three frigates, which had been raiding British trade off West Africa, closed on a British convoy escorted by HMS Belliqueux. The convoy formed a line of battle and Landolphe, taking it for a fleet of warships, turned away. Belliqueux ran down his flagship Concorde, which struck with little resistance, and that night the East Indiaman Exeter came alongside the frigate Médée and, using lights to pose as a ship of the line, persuaded her captain to surrender.
Why it is remembered It was the only occasion in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars on which a British merchant ship captured a large French warship.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Joseph Piazza, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars (Anglo-Spanish War)
Action of 7 April 1800 Convoy battle
Also known as Action of 6 to 7 April 1800
5 to 7 April 1800 · Off Cádiz, Spain
Fought between Britain against Spain
Commanders John Thomas Duckworth (Britain); Fraquin Porcel, Manuel Norates (Spain)
Forces 2 British ships of the line and 1 frigate against 3 Spanish frigates escorting 13 merchant ships
Ships HMS Leviathan, HMS Swiftsure, HMS Emerald, Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Santa Florentina, Santa Sabina
Losses Britain: none. Spain: 2 frigates and 9 merchant ships captured, 23 killed, 28 wounded.
Result British victory
A Spanish convoy bound for the Americas left Cádiz on 3 April 1800 and met Duckworth's blockading squadron two days later. In light winds the British chased the scattered ships, and on 7 April the frigates Nuestra Señora del Carmen and Santa Florentina mistook Leviathan and Emerald for part of their own convoy and were forced to surrender after a short, fierce fight. Santa Sabina escaped and the unprotected merchant ships were taken one by one.
Why it is remembered It was a heavy blow to Spanish trade with the colonies, with most of the convoy sent into Gibraltar as prizes.
Sources differ One account says 13 vessels of the 16-ship convoy were captured; another account lists 2 frigates and 9 merchant ships captured.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Second Coalition
Raid on Dunkirk Raid
7 July 1800 · Dunkirk anchorage, northern France
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Henry Inman (Britain); Jean Castagnier (France)
Forces 2 British frigates, 1 sloop and 4 fireships against 4 French frigates
Ships HMS Dart, Désirée
Losses Britain: 18 killed and wounded, 4 fireships destroyed. France: 100 killed and wounded, 1 frigate captured.
Result British victory
A Royal Navy force attacked a French frigate squadron at anchor in Dunkirk with fireships, boats and several experimental weapons. The heavily armed sloop HMS Dart carried the frigate Désirée, but the fireships achieved little. Three other French frigates cut their cables and ran aground in the shoals; all were later refloated.
Why it is remembered Several experimental weapons were tried in combat for the first time, with mixed success. The capture of the Désirée was painted by Thomas Whitcombe.
Sources differ The main account says the exact British casualty totals are uncertain.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Second Coalition (Anglo-Spanish War)
Ferrol Expedition Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Brión
25 to 26 August 1800 · Ferrol, Galicia, Spain
Fought between Britain against Spain
Commanders Sir John Borlase Warren, Sir James Pulteney, Sir Edward Pellew (Britain); Count Donadio, Juan de Mondragón (Spain)
Forces 15,000 British troops and 5 ships of the line against 4,000 Spanish troops and 6 ships of the line
Losses Britain: 16 killed, 68 wounded. Spain: 37 killed, 102 wounded.
Result Spanish victory
A British expedition landed near Ferrol, a major Spanish naval base with a shipyard and dry dock, and tried to take it on 25 and 26 August 1800. The attempt failed.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Second Coalition (Marengo campaign)
Siege of Genoa (1800) Landing or siege
19 April to 4 June 1800 · Genoa, Ligurian Republic
Fought between Austria and Britain against France and Liguria
Commanders Michael von Melas, Peter Karl Ott, Lord Keith (Austria and Britain); André Masséna, Jean-de-Dieu Soult (France)
Forces 24,000 Austrian troops and a British squadron of 1 ship of the line, 2 frigates, 1 brig-sloop and 1 cutter against 12,000 French troops
Losses France: 4,000 to 8,000 in the siege. Austria and Britain: 6,000 to 6,500 in the siege. Thousands of Genoa's inhabitants died of starvation or disease.
Result Anglo-Austrian victory
An Austrian army besieged Masséna's French garrison in Genoa while a Royal Navy squadron under Lord Keith blockaded the port and bombarded the city, notably on 20 May 1800. Masséna made frequent sorties, but famine forced him to surrender on 4 June.
Why it is remembered While the Austrians were tied down at Genoa, Napoleon crossed into Italy and won the Battle of Marengo.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Joseph John Skelton, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Second Coalition; Quasi-War
Invasion of Curaçao (1800) Landing or siege
22 July to 25 September 1800 · Curaçao, Dutch West Indies
Fought between Batavian Republic, United States and Britain against France
Commanders Johan Lausser (Batavian Republic); Moses Brown, Henry Geddes (United States); Frederick Watkins (Britain); Louis-François Jeannet, Maurice Bresseau (France)
Forces 1 frigate, 2 ship-sloops and shore defences against 16 French vessels (2 brig-sloops, 3 schooners and 11 others) and at least 1,400 troops, sailors and militia
Ships HMS Nereide, USS Patapsco, USS Merrimack
Losses United States: 2 wounded. France: 150 killed or wounded, an unknown number of ships damaged.
Result Allied victory; British occupation of Curaçao
French forces landed on Curaçao on 22 July 1800 and on 5 September took a fort covering Willemstad. On 10 September the Dutch governor surrendered the island to the British frigate HMS Nereide, and on 23 September the American sloop USS Patapsco sailed into the harbour and landed men to reinforce the town. After a day and night of cannon and musket fire the French withdrew from the island.
Why it is remembered The British occupied the colony, and the action was one of the few in which American and British forces acted together during the Quasi-War.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Second Coalition (Siege of Malta)
Battle of the Malta Convoy Convoy battle
Also known as Bataille du convoi de Malte
18 February 1800 · Off Malta, Mediterranean Sea
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Rear-Admiral Lord Nelson (Britain); Counter-admiral Jean-Baptiste Perrée, killed (France)
Forces British: 3 ships of the line and 1 frigate. French: 1 ship of the line, 3 corvettes and 3 transports.
Ships HMS Alexander, HMS Success, Généreux
Losses British: 1 killed, 9 wounded. French: 21 killed, 15 wounded, Généreux and 1 transport captured.
Result British victory
Perrée's convoy from Toulon tried to slip food, arms and reinforcements into besieged Valletta. HMS Alexander sighted it and Nelson's squadron gave chase. Most French ships escaped, but a transport was taken and the much smaller frigate HMS Success engaged the flagship Généreux, mortally wounding Perrée, until the British ships of the line came up and Généreux surrendered.
Why it is remembered No supplies reached Malta, which surrendered on 4 September 1800. Généreux, a survivor of the Nile, was finally taken.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: E.H. Dyason (British, FL. 1885 to 1886), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Quasi-War
Battle of Puerto Plata Harbor Raid
Also known as Batalla del puerto de Puerto Plata
11 May 1800 · Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
Fought between United States against France and Spain
Commanders Silas Talbot, Isaac Hull, Daniel Carmick (United States)
Forces About 100 American marines and sailors in 1 sloop against 1 French corvette and 1 Spanish fort
Ships USS Sally, Sandwich, USS Constitution
Losses United States: unknown. France and Spain: 1 corvette captured, 1 fort captured.
Result American victory
About a hundred marines and sailors from the frigate USS Constitution were carried into Puerto Plata in the sloop USS Sally. They boarded the French corvette Sandwich at anchor, which surrendered after a brief firefight, and then stormed the Spanish Fortaleza San Felipe and spiked its guns.
Sources differ The image caption calls Sandwich a French privateer; the main account calls her a French corvette.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Quasi-War
USS Boston vs Berceau Single-ship action
Also known as Action between USS Boston and Berceau
12 October 1800 · About 600 miles north east of Guadeloupe
Fought between United States against France
Commanders George Little (United States); Louis-André Senez (France)
Forces 1 American frigate of 32 guns and 220 men against 1 French corvette of 24 guns and 180 men
Ships USS Boston, Berceau
Losses United States: 7 killed, 8 wounded. France: 50 to 80 killed, 18 wounded, 82 to 112 taken prisoner, Berceau captured.
Result American victory
Boston chased the corvette Berceau and caught her in the late afternoon. The two ships shot away each other's rigging until both were unmanageable and drifted apart, repaired their damage and fought again after dark for more than an hour. Having lost her fore and main masts and repelled boarding attempts, Berceau struck her colours.
Why it is remembered The action had been fought two weeks after peace was agreed, so Berceau was repaired at American expense and returned to France. Charges that the French officers were plundered led to a court martial and most of Boston's officers were dismissed from the navy.
Sources differ French figures give 4 killed and 17 wounded aboard Berceau. American and French reports differ on the times the action began and ended, and the French report describes an additional intermediate engagement.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Julian Oliver Davidson (1853, 1894) [1], Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Quasi-War
USS Constellation vs La Vengeance Single-ship action
Also known as Action of 1 February 1800
1 to 2 February 1800 · Off Saint Kitts, near Guadeloupe, Caribbean Sea
Fought between United States against France
Commanders Commodore Thomas Truxtun (United States); François Marie Pitot (France)
Forces American: the frigate USS Constellation, 336 men and 38 guns. French: the frigate La Vengeance, 380 men and 40 guns.
Ships USS Constellation, La Vengeance
Losses American: 14 dead, 25 wounded, ship severely damaged. French: 28 to 160 dead, 110 wounded, ship severely damaged.
Result Inconclusive
Truxtun sailed his flagship Constellation towards Guadeloupe to seek out French warships and met Pitot's La Vengeance, which tried to flee. In a heavy engagement La Vengeance struck her colours twice, but Constellation could not take her, and she escaped after Constellation's mainmast fell. Pitot reached Curaçao and Truxtun went to Jamaica for repairs.
Why it is remembered Truxtun returned home to a hero's welcome.
Sources differ French dead are given as anywhere from 28 to 160.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Irwin John David Bevan, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Quasi-War
USS Enterprise vs Flambeau Single-ship action
25 October 1800 · Off Dominica, Caribbean Sea
Fought between United States against France
Commanders John Shaw (United States)
Forces 1 American schooner with 83 men and 12 six-pounder guns against 1 French brig with 110 men and 12 eight-pounder guns
Ships USS Enterprise, Flambeau
Losses United States: 3 killed, 7 wounded. France: 7 killed, 33 wounded, 70 taken prisoner, Flambeau captured.
Result American victory
The schooner USS Enterprise, though outgunned, engaged the French brig Flambeau off Dominica and took her as a prize after a short fight. Enterprise went on to capture the French vessels Pauline and Guadaloupeenne.
Why it is remembered It is described as the final battle between French and American forces in the Quasi-War, and it made the name of John Shaw.
Sources differ One account caption calls Flambeau a privateer; another account calls her a French brig.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Artist: George A. Traver, (1864 to 1928) Engraver: F. A. Pettit, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · First Barbary War
Action of 1 August 1801 Single-ship action
Also known as First naval battle of Tripoli
1 August 1801 · Between Tripoli and Malta
Fought between United States against Tripolitania
Commanders Andrew Sterett (United States); Rais Mahomet Rous (Tripoli)
Forces 1 American schooner with 90 men against 1 Tripolitan polacca with 80 men
Ships USS Enterprise, Tripoli
Losses United States: none. Tripoli: 30 killed, 30 wounded, Tripoli disabled.
Result American victory
Sailing to Malta for supplies from the blockade of Tripoli, the schooner USS Enterprise met the polacca Tripoli. The Tripolitans fought stubbornly and feigned surrender three times in a three hour action before the polacca was taken. Sterett had no orders to take prizes and released her.
Why it is remembered It was the first American victory of the war and lifted morale in the United States. The action is the subject of an 1878 painting by William Bainbridge Hoff.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: William Bainbridge Hoff (died 1903), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars
Action of 19 February 1801 Single-ship action
19 February 1801 · Off Ceuta, Spanish North Africa
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Robert Barlow (Britain); Commodore Saulnier (France, killed)
Forces 1 British frigate against 1 French frigate carrying more than 400 soldiers
Ships HMS Phoebe, Africaine
Losses Britain: 1 killed, 12 wounded. France: 200 killed, 143 wounded, Africaine captured.
Result British victory
The frigate Africaine sailed from Rochefort with more than 400 soldiers for the French army trapped in Egypt and tried to pass along the North African coast. HMS Phoebe found the overladen ship off Ceuta on the afternoon of 19 February and in a two hour action reduced her to a wreck, her broadsides cutting through the soldiers crowded on deck. Africaine was taken into Mahón and later served in the Royal Navy.
Why it is remembered It was one of a series of actions that stopped France from reinforcing its army in Egypt after the Battle of the Nile.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Jean-Baptiste Henri Durand-Brager, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars
Action of 24 June 1801 Single-ship action
24 June 1801 · 21 nautical miles north east of Cape Derna, Libya
Fought between France against Britain
Commanders Honoré Ganteaume, Louis-Marie Le Gouardun, Pierre-Paulin Gourrège (France); Benjamin Hallowell (Britain)
Forces 2 French ships of the line and 1 frigate engaged, with 2 more ships of the line in support, against 1 British ship of the line
Ships HMS Swiftsure
Losses France: 33 killed and wounded. Britain: 2 killed, 8 wounded, Swiftsure captured.
Result French victory
HMS Swiftsure, sailing west near Cape Derna, met Ganteaume's squadron returning from a failed attempt to reinforce Egypt. The faster French ships caught her, and Hallowell turned to try to disable the leading three before the rest arrived. His sluggish ship could not answer the French manoeuvres and within two hours she was surrounded and he surrendered.
Why it is remembered It was a rare French success in the Mediterranean after the Nile. Swiftsure served in the French Navy and was recaptured at Trafalgar in 1805; Hallowell was court martialled and honourably acquitted.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Second Coalition
Action of 6 May 1801 Single-ship action
Also known as Capture of El Gamo; Combat du Speedy et du Gamo
6 May 1801 · Off Barcelona, Spain
Fought between Britain against Spain
Commanders Lord Cochrane (Britain); Francisco de Torres (Spain, killed)
Forces 1 British brig-sloop of 14 guns and 54 men against 1 Spanish xebec-frigate of 32 guns and 319 men
Ships HMS Speedy, El Gamo
Losses Britain: 3 killed, 9 wounded. Spain: 14 killed, 305 captured, El Gamo captured.
Result British victory
Lord Cochrane's brig-sloop HMS Speedy fought and captured the much larger Spanish xebec-frigate El Gamo off Barcelona. Captain Francisco de Torres was among the 14 Spaniards killed, and the rest of the crew were taken prisoner. El Gamo was later sold to the Regency of Algiers.
Why it is remembered The gulf in size between the two ships makes it one of the best known single-ship actions of the age of sail. It is shown in the 1845 painting The Capture of the El Gamo.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Clarkson Frederick Stanfield, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French invasion of Egypt and Syria
Battle of Abukir (1801) Landing or siege
Also known as Landing at Aboukir
8 March 1801 · Abu Qir Bay, near the Nile Delta, Egypt
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Sir Ralph Abercromby, Sidney Smith, Lord Keith (Britain); Louis Friant (France)
Forces 6,000 British troops landed from a fleet of 7 ships of the line, 5 frigates and a dozen smaller warships, against 1,800 to 2,500 French troops
Losses Britain: 102 killed, 515 wounded, 123 missing. France: 400 killed or wounded.
Result British victory
Keith's fleet carried Abercromby's expeditionary force to Abu Qir Bay to drive the remaining French troops out of Egypt. Gales and heavy seas held the transports in the bay for several days before the troops could land. On 8 March they went ashore under fire and defeated Friant's defenders.
Why it is remembered It opened the campaign that ended the French occupation of Egypt. The landing is shown in the 1802 picture The Landing of British Troops at Aboukir.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Philip James de Loutherbourg, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French invasion of Egypt and Syria
Battle of Alexandria (1801) Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Canope; Battle of Canopus
21 March 1801 · Near the ruins of Nicopolis, on the spit between the Mediterranean and Abukir, near Alexandria, Egypt
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Sir Ralph Abercromby (mortally wounded), John Hely-Hutchinson, John Moore, Sidney Smith, Frederick Maitland (Britain); Jacques-François Menou, François Lanusse (killed), Jean Reynier (France)
Forces 12,000 to 14,200 British troops, 35 cannon and several gunboats against 10,000 to 16,000 French troops and 46 cannon
Losses Britain: 243 killed, 1,253 wounded, 32 missing. France: 1,700 to 5,000 killed, wounded, captured or missing.
Result British victory
Abercromby's entrenched army, landed in Egypt earlier that month, met an assault by Menou's French army near Alexandria. After several hours of hard fighting the French were routed. British gunboats under Frederick Maitland fired into the French attacks and caused part of their losses.
Why it is remembered Abercromby was mortally wounded. His successor Hely-Hutchinson went on to besiege Alexandria, which surrendered in September 1801. The battle is the subject of a painting by Philip James de Loutherbourg.
Sources differ Sources differ on the French strength, from 10,000 to 16,000 men, with one source giving 20,000 engaged in total.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Philip James de Loutherbourg, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Second Coalition; English Wars
Battle of Copenhagen (1801) Fleet battle
Also known as First Battle of Copenhagen
2 April 1801 · Off Copenhagen, Øresund
Fought between Britain against Denmark-Norway
Commanders Sir Hyde Parker, Lord Nelson (Britain); Olfert Fischer, Steen Andersen Bille (Denmark-Norway)
Forces 12 British ships of the line, 4 frigates, 1 post ship, 4 sloops, 7 bomb vessels and 2 fireships against 7 Danish ships of the line, 4 frigates, 3 prams, 3 radeaus and 1 floating battery, supported by the Tre Kroner fort
Ships HMS Elephant, HMS London, HMS Defiance, HMS Agamemnon, HMS Russell, HMS Bellona, HMS Glatton, HMS Monarch, HMS Ganges, HMS Amazon, HMS Edgar, HMS Ardent, HMS Polyphemus, HMS Isis, Dannebroge, Holsteen, Sjælland, Prøvesteenen, Indfødsretten, Nyborg, Aggershuus
Losses Britain: 254 to 274 killed, 688 to 737 wounded. Denmark-Norway: 367 killed, 635 wounded, 1,779 captured; 6 ships of the line, 2 frigates, 1 pram and 3 radeaus captured, 1 ship of the line destroyed, 2 prams sunk.
Result British victory
Fearing that the Danish fleet would join France, a British fleet attacked the line of Danish ships and floating batteries moored before Copenhagen. Agamemnon, Russell and Bellona grounded before or during the attack, forcing hurried changes to the line, and the Danes fought hard. When Parker signalled a recall at 1.30 pm, Nelson, in HMS Elephant, ignored it, holding his telescope to his blind eye; the Danish flagship Dannebroge caught fire and blew up with the loss of 250 men, and after Nelson sent a flag of truce a 24 hour ceasefire was agreed. Denmark accepted British terms on hearing that Tsar Paul I had been assassinated, which ended the League of Armed Neutrality.
Why it is remembered Nelson's blind eye to the recall signal became one of the best known stories of his career. The battle is shown in paintings by Robert Dodd and Christian Mølsted, a memorial stone stands just north of Copenhagen, and the wreck of Dannebroge was found by Danish maritime archaeologists in 2026.
Sources differ British casualties are given as a range of 254 to 274 killed and 688 to 737 wounded. Some Danish historians dispute the claim that much of the Danish line had fallen silent by about 2 pm.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Nicholas Pocock, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Second Coalition (Algeciras campaign)
First Battle of Algeciras Fleet battle
6 July 1801 · Algeciras Bay, Spain
Fought between France and Spain against Britain
Commanders Charles-Alexandre Léon Durand Linois (France); Sir James Saumarez, Solomon Ferris (Britain)
Forces 3 French ships of the line, 1 frigate and 14 Spanish gunboats with shore batteries against 6 British ships of the line and 1 sloop
Ships HMS Hannibal
Losses France: 161 killed, 324 wounded. Spain: 11 killed, 5 gunboats sunk. Britain: 121 killed, 240 wounded, 14 missing, 600 captured, HMS Hannibal captured.
Result Franco-Spanish victory
Saumarez found Linois's squadron at anchor in Algeciras on its way to Cádiz and attacked at once through the shoals of the bay. Linois used Spanish batteries and warping to hold his line, and the French ships were driven ashore to avoid capture. In light winds HMS Hannibal grounded under heavy fire and, after Saumarez withdrew the rest of his squadron, Captain Ferris surrendered her.
Why it is remembered It was a British defeat that led directly to the Second Battle of Algeciras six days later.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Antoine Roux, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars (East Indies theatre)
Battle of Mahé Single-ship action
19 August 1801 · Harbour of Mahé, Seychelles
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Charles Adam (Britain); Pierre Guiyesse (France)
Forces 1 British frigate of 38 guns against 1 French frigate of 36 guns supported by a shore battery
Ships HMS Sibylle, Chiffonne, Flèche, HMS Victor
Losses Britain: 2 killed, 1 wounded. France: 23 killed, 30 wounded, Chiffonne captured.
Result British victory
The new French frigate Chiffonne was sent to the western Indian Ocean to attack ships supplying the British Red Sea squadron and anchored at Mahé for repairs, behind coral reefs and a hastily built battery. HMS Sibylle found her there, worked through the reefs and came alongside, and after a brief, hard fight Guiyesse surrendered. A month later the French brig Flèche, on the same mission from the same harbour, was intercepted and sunk by HMS Victor.
Why it is remembered These were the last significant actions of the war in the Indian Ocean before the Peace of Amiens. The capture is the subject of a painting by Thomas Whitcombe.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars (Anglo-Spanish War)
Raid on Oropesa Raid
Also known as Raid on Oropeso
9 June 1801 · Oropesa del Mar, eastern Spain
Fought between Britain against Spain
Commanders Thomas Cochrane, George Pulling (Britain)
Forces 2 British brigs (given in the main account as 1 sloop and 1 brig) against a 12-gun fort, 1 xebec, 1 felucca, 4 gunboats and 12 merchant vessels
Ships HMS Kangaroo, HMS Speedy
Losses Britain: 1 killed, 7 wounded. Spain: 1 xebec and 2 gunboats sunk, 3 brigs captured, the rest driven ashore; casualties unknown.
Result British victory
HMS Kangaroo and HMS Speedy chased an armed Spanish convoy into Oropesa. They silenced a fort of twelve guns, then sank or drove ashore every Spanish vessel except three brigs, which they captured.
Sources differ One account calls both British ships brigs; another account lists 1 sloop and 1 brig.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Juan Emilio Prades Bel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · French Revolutionary Wars
Siege of Porto Ferrajo Landing or siege
Also known as Siege of Portoferraio
May to October 1801 · Porto Ferrajo (Portoferraio), Elba, Tuscany
Fought between Tuscany and Britain against France
Commanders Carlo de Fisson (Tuscany); George Airey, Sir John Borlase Warren (Britain); Jean Victor Tharreau, François Watrin (France)
Forces French besiegers of 1,500 men, later more than 5,000, with a squadron of French frigates, against a heavily outnumbered Tuscan garrison supported by a small British squadron
Losses France: all the frigates sent to blockade the port were lost to British warships.
Result Anglo-Tuscan victory; the island was granted to France by the Treaty of Amiens in March 1802
After occupying mainland Tuscany, the French besieged the fortress of Porto Ferrajo on Elba and tried to starve it out with the help of frigates off the coast. British warships kept the garrison supplied, intercepted French convoys and took every French frigate sent to blockade the port in a series of one-sided actions. Reinforced by Warren and Airey, the defenders made sallies, and the siege dragged on until the preliminary articles of peace were signed in October.
Why it is remembered The town was still in Tuscan hands at the peace, but the final Treaty of Amiens gave Elba to France.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: James Daniell, Francis Jukes and James Weir, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Second Coalition
Raids on Boulogne (1801) Raid
Also known as Raid on Boulogne
4 and 15 to 16 August 1801 · Boulogne, northern France
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Horatio Nelson (Britain); Louis-René Latouche Tréville (France)
Forces 6 British ships of the line, 7 frigates, 11 sloops, 7 bomb vessels, 32 brigs and many gunboats against 24 French brigs and lugger-rigged flats and 1 schooner
Losses Britain: 44 killed, 126 wounded, 20 captured, 4 deserted, 6 gunboats sunk. France: 10 killed, 30 wounded, 2 to 4 luggers sunk.
Result French victory
Nelson tried to destroy the French flotilla at Boulogne thought to be gathered for an invasion of England. On 4 August his bomb vessels bombarded the French line, but the British suffered more and withdrew. On the night of 15 to 16 August about seventy boats with nearly 2,000 men in four divisions attacked the flotilla and were beaten off by Latouche Tréville's defenders.
Why it is remembered It was a rare failure for Nelson. The repulse is shown in a painting by Louis-Philippe Crépin.
Sources differ One account mentions five bomb vessels on 4 August; another account lists seven. One account dates the boat attack to the night of 16 August, another account to 15 to 16 August.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Second Coalition (Algeciras campaign)
Second Battle of Algeciras Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of the Gut of Gibraltar
12 to 13 July 1801 · Gut of Gibraltar, Strait of Gibraltar
Fought between Britain against Spain and France
Commanders Sir James Saumarez, Richard Goodwin Keats (Britain); Juan de Mondragón (Spain); Charles-Alexandre Linois, Amable Troude (France)
Forces 6 British ships of the line and 2 frigates against 9 Spanish and French ships of the line and 3 frigates
Ships HMS Superb, HMS Venerable, Real Carlos, San Hermenegildo, Saint Antoine, Formidable
Losses Britain: 18 killed, 101 wounded. Spain and France: about 2,000 killed or wounded, 500 captured, 2 ships of the line destroyed, 1 ship of the line captured, 1 frigate sunk.
Result British victory
Six days after the First Battle of Algeciras, a combined Franco-Spanish squadron sailed west from Algeciras and Saumarez's repaired squadron gave chase. On a moonless night HMS Superb passed through the Spanish rear, set the 112-gun Real Carlos on fire and captured Saint Antoine; in the darkness Real Carlos engaged her compatriot San Hermenegildo, the fire spread and both ships blew up with enormous loss of life. HMS Venerable then fought a long duel with the French Formidable and was driven ashore, and the rest of the combined squadron reached Cádiz.
Why it is remembered Coming days after Saumarez's defeat at Algeciras, it restored the balance in the region, and the heavy Spanish losses weakened the Franco-Spanish alliance before the Treaty of Amiens. In France Troude was praised and promoted for his defence of Formidable, which is shown in an 1832 painting.
Sources differ One account dates the battle to 12 July 1801; another account gives 12 to 13 July. Another account calls the result an Anglo-Portuguese victory, and the battle was celebrated in France as a victory.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Pierre-Julien Gilbert, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Tây Sơn-Nguyễn War
Battle of Thị Nại (1801) Fleet battle
Also known as Trận Thị Nại
27 February 1801 · Thị Nại Lagoon, Quy Nhơn, Bình Định, Vietnam
Fought between Nguyễn lords under Nguyễn Ánh against the Tây Sơn dynasty
Commanders Nguyễn Ánh, Lê Văn Duyệt, Võ Di Nguy (killed), Nguyễn Văn Trương, Nguyễn Văn Thành, Tống Phước Lương, with the French officers Vannier, Chaigneau and de Forçanz (Nguyễn); Võ Văn Dũng, Vũ Văn Thành (Tây Sơn)
Forces Nguyễn: about 8,000 to 12,000 men in roughly 300 vessels, including the European style ships Phượng phi (Le Phénix), Long phi (Le Dragon) and Bằng phi (L'Aigle). Tây Sơn: about 50,000 men, about 30 large ships including the flagship Định Quốc, and about 700 smaller vessels.
Ships Phượng phi (Le Phénix), Long phi (Le Dragon), Bằng phi (L'Aigle), Định Quốc
Losses Nguyễn: from over 600 to about 4,000 dead, among them Võ Di Nguy. Tây Sơn: about 20,000 men (some sources say 40,000), hundreds of guns and most of the fleet.
Result Decisive Nguyễn victory; the Tây Sơn navy was effectively destroyed
Nguyễn forces entered the lagoon at night, captured a Tây Sơn patrol boat and learned the password, then attacked the anchored Tây Sơn fleet with fire ships and torches. Võ Di Nguy was killed by gunfire and Lê Văn Duyệt pressed on with the attack. Most of the Tây Sơn ships burned and their crews were largely destroyed.
Why it is remembered Nguyễn histories call it the foremost feat of arms of the Nguyễn restoration. It gave Nguyễn Ánh control of the coast and opened the way for his advance on Phú Xuân.
Sources differ Tây Sơn losses are given as about 20,000 or 40,000 men and from 700 to 1,800 vessels; Nguyễn losses from over 600 to about 4,000.
Sources vi.wikipedia.org
Image: Unknown Vietnamese painter, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · English Wars
Battle of West Kay Single-ship action
Also known as Battle of Fugleklippen; Slaget ved Fugleklippen
3 March 1801 · Off West Kay skerry, near Saint Thomas, Danish West Indies
Fought between Denmark-Norway against Britain
Commanders Carl Wilhelm Jessen (Denmark-Norway); John Perkins (Britain)
Forces 1 Danish brig and 1 schooner against 1 British post ship and 1 privateer
Ships Lougen
Losses Britain: 8 killed, 10 wounded. Denmark-Norway: 1 killed, 3 wounded.
Result Danish victory
A Danish brig and schooner fought a British post ship and a privateer off the skerry of West Kay near Saint Thomas and drove them off.
Why it is remembered It is a rare Danish naval victory in the Caribbean and is shown in a painting by Conrad Christian Parnemann.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Conrad Christian Parnemann, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · First Barbary War
Action of 17 June 1802 Single-ship action
17 June 1802 · Off Cape Palos, south east Spain
Fought between Tripolitania against the United States
Commanders Andrew Morris (United States, captured)
Forces 1 American brig against 3 Tripolitan vessels with 110 men
Ships Franklin
Losses United States: Franklin captured, 9 men taken prisoner. Tripoli: none.
Result Tripolitan victory
Three Tripolitan vessels captured the brig Franklin off Cape Palos and took her master, Andrew Morris, and his crew prisoner.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Rev. Thomas Davidson 1856 to 1923 (ed.), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Barbary and Portuguese conflicts
Action of 8 May 1802 Single-ship action
Also known as Action of 27 May 1802
8 May 1802 · Mediterranean Sea
Fought between Algiers against Portugal
Commanders Raïs Hamidou (Algiers); João Luís de Seguin Deshon (Portugal, killed)
Forces 1 Algerian frigate of 40 to 44 guns with 300 crew and 150 janissaries against 1 Portuguese frigate of 36 to 44 guns with 282 to 300 men
Losses Algiers: 36 killed, 40 wounded. Portugal: 50 killed, 67 wounded, the rest of the crew captured.
Result Algerian victory
A Portuguese frigate commanded by the French-born João Luís de Seguin Deshon was attacked and captured by an Algerian frigate commanded by the corsair Raïs Hamidou.
Sources differ The English account dates the action to 8 May 1802; the French and Spanish accounts date it to 27 May 1802. One account gives the frigates as 44 and 36 guns; another gives ranges.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · First Barbary War
First Battle of Tripoli Harbor Fleet battle
16 May 1802 · Tripoli harbour, Libya
Fought between Sweden and the United States against Tripolitania
Commanders Rudolf Cederström (Sweden); Daniel McNeill (United States); Burak Rouse (Tripoli)
Forces 3 frigates (1 American, 2 Swedish) against 7 Tripolitan corsairs
Ships USS Boston
Losses Sweden and United States: none. Tripoli: 1 corsair grounded.
Result Inconclusive
The American frigate USS Boston and two Swedish frigates enforcing the blockade of Tripoli were engaged by Tripolitan corsairs. The allies damaged the Tripolitan squadron and the harbour fortifications, then withdrew and resumed the blockade.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Jean-Jérôme Baugean, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · First Barbary War
Action of 2 June 1803 Raid
2 June 1803 · Near Tripoli, Libya
Fought between United States against Tripolitania
Commanders David Porter (wounded), James Lawrence, John Downes (United States)
Forces 50 American men in 9 boats against 1,000 Tripolitan men
Losses United States: 15 killed or wounded. Tripoli: unknown.
Result Tripolitan victory
American boats attacked Tripolitan vessels carrying wheat with the aim of burning them. The raid failed and the wheat cargo was saved.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Alonzo Chappell, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · First Barbary War
Action of 22 June 1803 Single-ship action
Also known as Second naval battle of Tripoli
22 June 1803 · Near Tripoli, Libya
Fought between United States against Tripolitania
Commanders John Rodgers (United States)
Forces 1 American frigate and 1 schooner against 1 Tripolitan polacre and 9 gunboats
Ships USS John Adams, USS Enterprise
Losses United States: unknown. Tripoli: 1 polacre destroyed.
Result American victory
USS John Adams and USS Enterprise, of the squadron blockading Tripoli, engaged a Tripolitan polacre and nine gunboats. After a sharp action of forty-five minutes the gunboats drew off and the polacre was abandoned. The Tripolitans reboarded her, the Americans engaged again, and the polacre was destroyed in a large explosion.
Why it is remembered The success persuaded Commodore Richard Valentine Morris to lift the blockade four days later, which let the Tripolitans regroup; President Jefferson removed him from command.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown artist, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Third Coalition (blockade of Saint-Domingue)
Action of 28 June 1803 Single-ship action
28 June 1803 · Off Môle-Saint-Nicolas, Saint-Domingue
Fought between France against Britain
Commanders Jean-Baptiste Philibert Willaumez, Jean-Pierre Bargeau (France); Henry William Bayntun, Charles Brisbane, John Hills (Britain)
Forces 1 French frigate and 1 corvette, both partly armed en flûte, against 3 British 74-gun ships of the line
Ships Poursuivante, Mignonne, HMS Hercule
Losses France: 10 killed, 15 wounded, Mignonne captured. Britain: unknown.
Result Inconclusive
In the opening engagement of the blockade of Saint-Domingue, the frigate Poursuivante and corvette Mignonne, unaware that war had broken out, met three British ships of the line. Mignonne was overhauled and captured. Poursuivante, sailing close inshore, outmanoeuvred HMS Hercule, raked her with a broadside and escaped into Môle-Saint-Nicolas.
Why it is remembered A frigate escaping a ship of the line earned Willaumez high praise, and in 1819 Louis-Philippe Crépin was commissioned to paint the action.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Louis-Philippe Crépin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · First Barbary War
Action of 31 October 1803 Single-ship action
Also known as Capture of USS Philadelphia
31 October 1803 · Near Tripoli, Libya
Fought between Tripolitania against the United States
Commanders William Bainbridge, David Porter (United States, both captured); Murad Reis (Tripoli)
Forces 1 American frigate against 9 Tripolitan vessels
Ships USS Philadelphia
Losses United States: Philadelphia captured, 307 men taken prisoner. Tripoli: none.
Result Tripolitan victory
While enforcing the blockade of Tripoli, the frigate USS Philadelphia ran aground chasing a Tripolitan ship. She was captured by the Tripolitans and her entire crew was enslaved.
Why it is remembered The loss of Philadelphia was a major and humiliating setback for the United States in the war.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars; Haitian Revolution
Blockade of Saint-Domingue Blockade and raiding
18 June to 6 December 1803 · Cap-Français and Môle-Saint-Nicolas, northern Saint-Domingue (Haiti)
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders John Duckworth, John Loring (Britain); Donatien de Rochambeau, Louis Marie de Noailles (mortally wounded), Latouche Tréville (France)
Forces 7 British ships of the line, 5 frigates and 2 brigs against 7,000 French troops, 2 ships of the line, 6 frigates and 35 other vessels
Ships HMS Blanche, Poursuivante, HMS Hercule
Losses Britain: unknown. France: 6,000 captured; 1 ship of the line, 4 frigates and 31 other vessels captured. Also 6 American and 2 Danish merchant ships captured.
Result British victory
When war resumed in 1803, Royal Navy squadrons blockaded the French garrisons of Cap-Français and Môle-Saint-Nicolas, already hemmed in on land by Dessalines's Indigenous Army. The British captured a convoy ship and a frigate in June, and on 24 July Commodore Loring intercepted the main French squadron trying to break out; one ship of the line was trapped against the coast and taken under fire from rebel shore batteries. Starving, Rochambeau's garrison at Cap-Français surrendered to the British, and Noailles, escaping from Môle-Saint-Nicolas in small vessels, was intercepted and mortally wounded.
Why it is remembered The surrender of the last French towns led directly to the founding of independent Haiti on 1 January 1804.
Sources differ One account dates the British deployment from the outbreak of war on 18 May 1803; another account gives the blockade as 18 June to 6 December 1803.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Louis-Philippe Crépin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars
Linois's expedition to the Indian Ocean Blockade and raiding
March 1803 to 13 March 1806 · Indian Ocean, from Isle de France to the South China Sea and the Bay of Bengal
Fought between France against Britain
Commanders Charles-Alexandre Léon Durand Linois (France); Nathaniel Dance (East India Company)
Forces The French ship of the line Marengo and three frigates
Ships Marengo
Losses France: Linois's squadron was captured at the action of 13 March 1806.
Result French failure: little damage to British trade, and the squadron captured on its way home
Linois sailed for the Indian Ocean in Marengo with three frigates in March 1803 and, when war broke out, slipped past a British squadron to reach Isle de France. From there he raided British trade for three years, taking individual merchant ships and the trading post of Bencoolen. He withdrew from the undefended China Fleet at Pulo Aura in February 1804 and was beaten off at Vizagapatam in September 1804, and on his voyage home he was captured by a British squadron on 13 March 1806.
Why it is remembered The cruise caused alarm across the region but did little real damage, and is known more for its failures. Napoleon refused to exchange Linois, who remained a prisoner until 1814.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Robert Dodd, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars
Action of 11 July 1804 Raid
11 July 1804 · Off Le Lavandou, Bay of Hyères, southern France
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders John Thompson (Britain)
Forces 10 boats from 3 British frigates against 12 French settees chained to the beach and covered by a 3-gun battery
Ships HMS Narcissus, HMS Seahorse, HMS Maidstone
Losses Britain: 4 killed, 23 wounded. France: 11 settees burnt, 1 captured.
Result British victory
At night ten boats from the frigates Narcissus, Seahorse and Maidstone, led by Lieutenant John Thompson, attacked twelve French settees moored with chains to the beach at Le Lavandou under a three-gun battery. They destroyed most of the French craft, but at a heavy cost.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Joseph Roux, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars
Action of 25 November 1804 Single-ship action
25 November 1804 · Off Cádiz, Spain
Fought between Britain against Spain
Commanders Richard Strachan (Britain)
Forces 1 British ship of the line against 1 Spanish frigate
Ships HMS Donegal, Amfitrite
Losses Spain: Amfitrite captured with 380 men. Britain: unknown.
Result British victory
Off Cádiz, the British ship of the line HMS Donegal fought and captured the Spanish frigate Amfitrite.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Captain George Pechell Mends (?), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars
Action of 5 October 1804 Fleet battle
5 October 1804 · Off Cabo de Santa Maria, southern Portugal
Fought between Britain against Spain
Commanders Graham Moore (Britain); José de Bustamante (Spain)
Forces 4 British frigates against 4 Spanish frigates
Losses Britain: 9 killed or wounded. Spain: 349 killed or wounded, 600 captured, 3 frigates captured, 1 frigate destroyed.
Result British victory
Though Britain and Spain were at peace, Moore's squadron was sent to stop Bustamante's frigates, which were carrying gold from Montevideo to Cádiz. The British destroyed one Spanish frigate and captured the other three, and none of the gold reached Spain.
Why it is remembered The attack caused outrage in Spain, and in December 1804 Charles IV declared war on Britain. Francis Sartorius painted the action in 1807.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Francis Sartorius, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · First Barbary War
Action of 7 July 1804 Raid
7 July 1804 · Near Tripoli, Libya
Fought between United States against Tripolitania
Commanders James R. Caldwell, John Sword Dorsey (United States)
Forces 3 American brigs, 1 schooner and 2 boats against 1 Tripolitan galiot and 1,000 men ashore
Ships USS Vixen
Losses United States: 2 killed, 2 wounded. Tripoli: unknown.
Result Tripolitan victory
A Tripolitan galiot carrying wheat was forced ashore by American ships as she tried to enter Tripoli. An American attempt to capture or destroy her was beaten off and the Tripolitans saved the cargo.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: US Navy, NHC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars
Raid on Boulogne (1804) Raid
Also known as Attack on Boulogne
2 to 3 October 1804 · Boulogne-sur-Mer, northern France
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Lord Keith, Sir Sidney Smith (Britain)
Losses Britain: unknown. France: 1 vessel lost.
Result Little material damage to the French flotilla
The Royal Navy attacked the French invasion flotilla anchored in the fortified port of Boulogne using a range of new devices made by the American inventor Robert Fulton with Admiralty backing. Despite its ambitious aims the assault did little damage to the French ships in the harbour.
Why it is remembered It was an early trial of Fulton's explosive devices in war, and it may have added to French doubts that an invasion of Britain could succeed in the face of the Royal Navy.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: E. D. Lewis, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars, Caribbean campaign of 1803 to 1810
Invasion of Surinam (1804) Landing or siege
25 April to 5 May 1804 · Surinam, Dutch Guiana
Fought between Britain against the Batavian Republic
Commanders Samuel Hood, Sir Charles Green (Britain); Abraham Jacob van Imbijze van Batenburg (Batavian Republic)
Forces British: more than 2,000 soldiers and 31 ships. Batavian: a weak garrison of unknown size.
Result British victory; the colony was captured
A British expeditionary force under Samuel Hood and Sir Charles Green attacked the Dutch colony of Surinam on 25 April 1804. By 5 May the weak Batavian garrison had been overcome and the colony captured.
Why it is remembered The colony fell within ten days, and Green was appointed governor of Surinam.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown artist, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars
Battle of Pulo Aura Convoy battle
Also known as Bataille de Poulo Aura
15 February 1804 · Off Pulo Aura, South China Sea
Fought between East India Company against France and the Batavian Republic
Commanders Nathaniel Dance (East India Company); Charles-Alexandre Léon Durand Linois (France)
Forces 29 East India Company merchant ships and 1 armed brig against 1 French ship of the line, 2 frigates, 1 corvette and 1 brig
Ships Marengo, Ganges
Losses East India Company: 1 killed, 1 wounded. France: none.
Result British victory
Linois, told by Dutch informants when the East India Company's China Fleet would leave Canton, found the convoy in February 1804. Its only warship escort was the armed brig Ganges, so Commodore Dance formed his East Indiamen into a line of battle and flew flags suggesting Royal Navy ships were present. After a brief exchange of fire Linois broke off, and Dance chased him for two hours until the convoy was safe.
Why it is remembered George III knighted Dance and he received large rewards, while Napoleon and Linois's own officers condemned Linois for failing to press his attack on a convoy carrying millions of pounds of cargo. Robert Dodd painted the action in 1804.
Sources differ One account dates the battle to 14 February 1804; another account, the painting's title and a third account on Linois's expedition give 15 February 1804. A third account on Linois's expedition counts the convoy as 16 East Indiamen and 14 other vessels.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Robert Dodd, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · First Barbary War
Second Battle of Tripoli Harbor Raid
Also known as Blockade of Tripoli
3 August to 10 September 1804 · Tripoli harbour, Libya
Fought between United States and the Kingdom of Sicily against Tripolitania
Commanders Edward Preble, Stephen Decatur, James Decatur (killed), Richard Somers (killed) (United States); Yusuf Karamanli (Tripoli)
Forces 1 American frigate, 3 brigs, 3 schooners, 2 bomb vessels and 6 gunboats with 1,060 men against 1 Tripolitan brig, 2 schooners, 2 galleys, 19 gunboats and shore batteries of 115 guns
Ships USS Constitution, USS Syren, USS Argus, USS Vixen, USS Nautilus, USS Enterprise, USS Scourge, USS Intrepid
Losses United States: 30 killed, 20 wounded, 2 vessels destroyed, 1 boat sunk. Tripoli: 47 killed, 27 captured, 2 gunboats sunk, 3 gunboats captured.
Result Tripolitan victory
On 3 August Preble sent six gunboats against the Tripolitan gunboats; Stephen Decatur's attack captured three and sank one, but his brother James was fatally shot. On 7 August an American gunboat's magazine blew up, killing 10, and further night attacks and bombardments followed in late August and early September. On 4 September the fire ship USS Intrepid, packed with explosives and commanded by Richard Somers, blew up as she entered the harbour, killing all 13 aboard, and on 10 September Preble called off the attack.
Why it is remembered Karamanli was not subdued, but Preble's attacks were praised in America and Europe. A monument honours the officers who fell, among them Somers, Caldwell, James Decatur, Wadsworth, Israel and Dorsey.
Sources differ One account gives 30 American dead, while the deaths listed in another account add up to 29. The cause of the Intrepid explosion is not confirmed; a third account says it was most likely Tripolitan fire. One account gives Tripoli 25,000 men, a figure out of line with the rest of a third account.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Service Depicted: Other Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars
Battle of Vizagapatam Convoy battle
Also known as Battle of Visakhapatnam; Combat de Vizagapatam
18 September 1804 · Approaches to Visakhapatnam harbour, Bay of Bengal, India
Fought between France against Britain
Commanders Charles-Alexandre Léon Durand Linois (France); James Lind (Britain)
Forces 1 French ship of the line and 2 frigates against 1 British fourth rate, 2 East Indiamen and shore batteries
Ships Marengo, HMS Centurion
Losses France: 5 killed, 6 wounded. Britain: 1 killed, 9 wounded, 1 merchant ship destroyed, 1 merchant ship captured.
Result Indecisive: Linois took one merchant ship but withdrew, and Marengo needed six months of repairs
Learning that East Indiamen lay at Visakhapatnam, Linois attacked at dawn, unaware that the escort was now the fourth rate HMS Centurion. One Indiaman ran ashore in panic and the other was captured, leaving Centurion to fight alone, at first under cover of the shore batteries. After four hours Marengo, kept well offshore by the shoals, withdrew, and the damaged Centurion was unable to pursue.
Why it is remembered It was another failure for Linois's raiding squadron, which had to return to Isle de France for repairs.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: W. Barnet (active 1805) (engraver); after Francis Sartorius (the younger); George Andrews (active 1794 to 1813) (publish, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Third Coalition (Trafalgar campaign)
Action of 10 August 1805 Single-ship action
10 August 1805 · Off Cape Finisterre, Spain
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Thomas Baker (Britain); Pierre Milius (France)
Forces 1 British frigate of 36 guns against 1 French frigate of 44 guns
Ships HMS Phoenix, Didon
Losses Britain: 12 killed, 28 wounded. France: 27 killed, 44 wounded, 260 captured, Didon captured.
Result British victory
The British frigate HMS Phoenix engaged the larger French frigate Didon off Cape Finisterre. After an hour of fighting Didon surrendered.
Why it is remembered The action is the subject of a painting by Francis Sartorius the younger.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Francis Sartorius (the younger), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars
Action of 15 July 1805 Single-ship action
15 July 1805 · Off the Chausey islands, Normandy, France
Fought between France against Britain
Commanders Joseph Collet (France); Georges Ker, James Garrety (Britain)
Forces 8 French oared gunboats against 2 British gun-brigs
Ships HMS Plumper, HMS Teazer
Losses France: none (Collet slightly wounded by a splinter). Britain: both gun-brigs captured.
Result French victory
The British gun-brigs Plumper and Teazer were becalmed off Chausey and attacked by French gunboats under oars. The gunboats manoeuvred freely around them, and their long guns outranged the British carronades, so both brigs were forced to surrender.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Third Coalition (Napoleon's planned invasion of Britain)
Battle of Blanc-Nez and Gris-Nez Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Gris-Nez and Blanc-Nez
18 July 1805 · Off Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez, northern France
Fought between Batavian Republic and France against Britain
Commanders Carel Hendrik Ver Huell (Batavian Republic); Lord Keith (Britain)
Forces 21 Batavian and French gunboats and 3 prams with 180 guns, supported by French shore batteries, against 45 British warships with at least 900 guns
Losses Batavian Republic and France: 10 to 16 killed, 60 to 70 wounded. Britain: 260 wounded, number killed unknown.
Result Franco-Batavian victory
A Batavian and French flotilla under Ver Huell sailed along the coast towards Boulogne, where the invasion flotilla was gathering. Keith's fleet attacked it several times off Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez, but the flotilla, covered by French batteries ashore, held off the attacks and reached Boulogne.
Why it is remembered The flotilla's passage is shown in an 1806 painting by Martinus Schouman.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Martinus Schouman, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Third Coalition (Trafalgar campaign)
Battle of Cape Finisterre (1805) Fleet battle
Also known as Calder's Action
22 July 1805 · Off Cape Finisterre, Galicia, Spain
Fought between Britain against France and Spain
Commanders Robert Calder (Britain); Pierre-Charles Villeneuve (France); Federico Gravina (Spain)
Forces 15 British ships of the line, 2 frigates, 1 lugger and 1 cutter against 20 French and Spanish ships of the line and 7 frigates
Ships HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Windsor Castle, HMS Malta, HMS Hero, Firme, San Rafael, Bucentaure, Argonauta, Formidable, Algésiras, Atlas, Pluton, España
Losses Britain: 41 killed, 162 wounded. France and Spain: 158 killed, 320 wounded, 1,200 captured, 2 ships of the line captured.
Result Inconclusive
Calder's fleet intercepted Villeneuve's combined fleet returning from the West Indies. HMS Hero led the British line into the enemy at about 17.15, and in failing light and thick, patchy fog the action became a confused melee in which HMS Malta was surrounded by five Spanish ships. The British took the Spanish Firme and San Rafael, but Calder broke off at 20.25 and did not renew the action on 23 and 24 July.
Why it is remembered Calder was court martialled and severely reprimanded for not renewing the battle, while Villeneuve chose not to go on to Brest, ending hopes of clearing the Channel for an invasion of Britain. William Anderson painted the action.
Sources differ The ship-by-ship tables in the main account give British losses as 39 killed and 159 wounded and Franco-Spanish wounded as 340, against the totals of 41, 162 and 320. Villeneuve's own figures add 800 sick.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: William Anderson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Third Coalition (Trafalgar campaign)
Battle of Cape Ortegal Fleet battle
Also known as Strachan's Action
4 November 1805 · Off Cape Ortegal, north west Spain, Bay of Biscay
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Sir Richard Strachan (Britain); Pierre Dumanoir le Pelley (France)
Forces 4 British ships of the line and 4 frigates against 4 French ships of the line
Ships HMS Caesar, HMS Hero, HMS Courageux, HMS Namur, HMS Santa Margarita, HMS Aeolus, HMS Phoenix, HMS Révolutionnaire, Formidable, Duguay-Trouin, Mont Blanc, Scipion
Losses Britain: 24 killed, 111 wounded. France: 730 killed or wounded, all 4 ships of the line captured.
Result British victory
Dumanoir had escaped from Trafalgar with the van and turned north for the French Atlantic ports. A British frigate led him towards Strachan's squadron, whose frigates harried and slowed the French until the ships of the line caught up. After several hours of hard fighting Strachan doubled the French line with frigates and ships of the line, and all four French ships surrendered.
Why it is remembered It was the final action of the Trafalgar campaign and was seen as completing Nelson's victory. All four prizes joined the Royal Navy; Duguay-Trouin became HMS Implacable and Formidable became HMS Brave. Thomas Whitcombe painted the action.
Sources differ One account gives French losses as 730 killed or wounded; the French order of battle estimates more than 910.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars
Battle off Cape Palos (1805) Convoy battle
Also known as Action of 4 February 1805; batalla del cabo de Palos (1805); action of Arrow and Acheron
4 February 1805 · Western Mediterranean; off Cape Palos, Spain (Wikidata) or off Cape Caxine on the Algerian coast (Wikipedia)
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Commander Richard Budd Vincent (HMS Arrow) and Commander Arthur Farquhar (HMS Acheron) (Britain); captains of the frigates Hortense and Incorruptible not named in the sources (France)
Forces The sloop HMS Arrow (carronades, 24 32-pounders when built) and the bomb vessel HMS Acheron (8 guns), escorting a convoy of some 25 to 30 merchant vessels, against the French frigates Hortense and Incorruptible with troops aboard
Ships HMS Arrow, HMS Acheron, Hortense, Incorruptible, Adventure, Dutchess of Rutland
Losses Britain: Arrow sunk, 13 killed and 27 wounded (at least two of them died later) out of 132 aboard; Acheron captured and burnt, three or four killed and eight wounded out of 67; three convoy ships taken and scuttled, and the leaking brig Adventure destroyed by the British themselves. France: Hortense had 10 killed.
Result French victory; both escorts lost, but most of the convoy escaped
The French frigates were sighted early on 3 February and caught up with the convoy on the 4th. Arrow cast off the leaking brig Adventure, which was destroyed, and the two escorts placed themselves between the convoy and the enemy. Hortense engaged Acheron first, Incorruptible joined about two hours later, and after another hour Vincent struck, with Arrow taking water and four guns dismounted; she sank as boats from Incorruptible took off survivors, and Acheron struck about a quarter of an hour later.
Why it is remembered Courts martial acquitted both commanders with honour and both were promoted post captain; Lloyd's Patriotic Fund gave each a sword worth £100. In 1847 the Naval General Service Medal was issued with the clasps 'Arrow 3 Feby. 1805' and 'Acheron 3 Feby. 1805'.
Sources differ Place: Wikidata and the title of a Royal Collection picture give Cape Palos, while the Wikipedia account places the action off Cape Caxine, Algeria, and mentions Cape Palos only as the position of HMS Fisgard and Wasp, which did not help. Date: the action was on 4 February, but the medal clasps read 3 February 1805, the day the French were first sighted.
Sources Wikidata · Wikipedia
Image: Francis Sartorius, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · First Barbary War
Battle of Derna (1805) Landing or siege
27 April to 12 June 1805 · Derna, Cyrenaica, Libya
Fought between United States and Tripolitan rebels against Tripolitania
Commanders William Eaton (wounded), Presley O'Bannon, Hamet Karamanli (United States and rebels); Mustafa Bey, Hassan Bey (Tripoli)
Forces 7 US Marines, 3 seamen, 70 Greek mercenaries, 450 Arabs and 3 US warships (a sloop, a brig and a schooner) against a garrison of 800 and a relief force of 1,200
Losses Americans: 2 killed, 3 wounded. Greeks: 10 wounded. Arabs: 68 to 78 killed and wounded. Tripoli: 68 to 78 killed, 120 wounded.
Result American victory
William Eaton and Marine Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon led a small mercenary army 521 miles across the Libyan Desert from Alexandria to the port of Derna, supported at sea by a sloop, a brig and a schooner. They took the town from a much larger garrison and held it against a relief force.
Why it is remembered It is described as the first foreign military intervention in United States history.
Sources differ One account dates the fighting to April to May 1805; another account gives 27 April to 12 June 1805.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Colonel Charles Waterhouse, U.S. Marines (Marine Corps Art Collection)(http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Home_Page.htm), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Third Coalition (Trafalgar campaign)
Battle of Diamond Rock Landing or siege
Also known as Bataille du rocher du Diamant; Batalla de la roca del Diamante
31 May to 2 June 1805 · Diamond Rock, off Martinique, approaches to Fort-de-France
Fought between France and Spain against Britain
Commanders Pierre-Charles Villeneuve, Julien Cosmao (France); Federico Gravina (Spain); James Maurice (Britain)
Forces 2 French and Spanish ships of the line, 1 frigate, 1 corvette, 1 schooner and 11 gunboats against the British garrison of Diamond Rock, commissioned as a stone frigate
Ships HMS Diamond Rock
Losses Britain: 2 killed, 1 wounded, 104 captured, Diamond Rock captured. France and Spain: 50 to 400 killed or wounded, 5 gunboats sunk.
Result Franco-Spanish victory
For over a year a British garrison on Diamond Rock had used guns hauled onto its cliffs to harass shipping bound for Fort-de-France. When Villeneuve's combined fleet reached Martinique in May 1805, he was persuaded to send a flotilla under Cosmao to retake it. The defenders, short of water, held the summit for several days against attackers who had no scaling ladders, and finally negotiated their surrender when water and ammunition ran out.
Why it is remembered Because the rock was legally a Royal Navy vessel, Maurice was court martialled for the loss of his ship and honourably acquitted. The capture is the subject of an 1837 painting by Auguste Mayer.
Sources differ Franco-Spanish casualties are given only as a range of 50 to 400 killed or wounded.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Auguste Étienne François Mayer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars
L'Hermite's expedition Blockade and raiding
October 1805 to September 1806 · West African coast and the Atlantic Ocean
Fought between France against Britain
Commanders Jean-Marthe-Adrien l'Hermite (France)
Forces 1 French ship of the line, 2 frigates and 1 corvette
Ships Régulus
Losses France: 1 frigate captured in the Bay of Biscay on 27 September 1806; another badly damaged by a hurricane.
Result Little effect on British trade
L'Hermite sailed from Lorient in October 1805 to raid British merchant ships and slave ships off West Africa and to draw British ships away from the blockade of Cádiz. He took individual merchant ships and, in January 1806, a small British naval brig, but the promised reinforcements never came after Trafalgar. He refitted in neutral Brazil, and on the way home in August 1806 a hurricane scattered the squadron: one frigate limped into a United States port, l'Hermite reached Brest in Régulus, and the other frigate was captured on 27 September.
Why it is remembered It was a diversion for the Trafalgar campaign that achieved little.
Sources differ The main account has l'Hermite sail in October 1805; the main account on the Atlantic campaign of 1806 says he had been raiding the African coast since August 1805.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Franco-Haitian War
Siege of Santo Domingo (1805) Landing or siege
February to April 1805 · City of Santo Domingo, Hispaniola
Fought between France against Haiti
Commanders Jean-Louis Ferrand (France); Jean-Jacques Dessalines (Emperor Jacques I), Henri Christophe (Haiti)
Forces 2,000 French regulars and 6 French frigates against 21,000 Haitian regulars and militia
Losses Unknown on both sides.
Result French victory
A Haitian army under Emperor Jacques I besieged Ferrand's French garrison in Santo Domingo for three weeks. The siege ended when six French Navy frigates arrived to support the city.
Why it is remembered The French victory was followed by the events known as the Beheadings of Moca.
Sources differ One account places the siege in March 1805; another account gives February to April 1805.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Dessalines, Jean-Jacques, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Third Coalition (Trafalgar campaign)
Battle of Trafalgar Fleet battle
21 October 1805 · Off Cape Trafalgar, south west Spain
Fought between Britain against France and Spain
Commanders Horatio Nelson (killed), Cuthbert Collingwood (Britain); Pierre-Charles Villeneuve (France, captured); Federico Gravina (Spain, died of wounds)
Forces 27 British ships of the line, 4 frigates, 1 schooner and 1 cutter against 33 French and Spanish ships of the line, 5 frigates and 2 brigs
Ships HMS Victory, HMS Royal Sovereign, HMS Belleisle, HMS Temeraire, HMS Conqueror, HMS Neptune, Bucentaure, Redoutable, Santísima Trinidad, Achille, Santa Ana, Principe de Asturias, Fougueux, Intrépide, San Agustín, Argonauta, Aigle, Berwick, Monarca, Neptuno, Indomptable
Losses Britain: 458 killed, 1,208 wounded, no ships lost. France and Spain: 4,395 killed, 2,541 wounded, 7,000 to 8,000 captured, 17 ships of the line captured and 1 destroyed.
Result British victory
Villeneuve's combined fleet left Cádiz on 18 October 1805 and met Nelson's fleet off Cape Trafalgar. Nelson attacked in two columns, led by HMS Victory and Collingwood's HMS Royal Sovereign, which broke the allied line in three and cut the rear off from the flagship Bucentaure while the van sailed on. The leading British ships suffered heavy fire on the approach and Nelson was shot by a French musketeer and died shortly before the end; Redoutable, Bucentaure and the great Santísima Trinidad surrendered and Achille blew up. In the storm that followed, many prizes sank, were wrecked or were scuttled, and some were retaken.
Why it is remembered The victory confirmed British naval supremacy and ended French plans to invade Britain, and Nelson's death made him a national hero. His signal “England expects that every man will do his duty” is still quoted, and the battle was painted by Turner in 1822 and by Clarkson Stanfield in 1836.
Sources differ Allied losses are given as 18 ships captured or destroyed in one account, 17 captured and 1 destroyed in another account, and 20 vessels taken in a third account. A fourth account also gives the allied fleet as nearly 30,000 men with 2,568 guns in one section and 2,632 guns in another.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Clarkson Frederick Stanfield, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Third Coalition (Atlantic campaign of 1806)
Action of 13 March 1806 Single-ship action
Also known as Bataille du Cap-Vert
13 March 1806 · Mid-Atlantic, given in the main account as off the Canary Islands
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Sir John Borlase Warren (Britain); Charles-Alexandre Léon Durand Linois (France, captured)
Forces 7 British ships of the line and 1 frigate against 1 French ship of the line and 1 frigate
Ships Marengo, Belle Poule, HMS London, HMS Amazon
Losses Britain: 14 killed, 27 wounded. France: 69 killed, 107 wounded, Marengo and Belle Poule captured.
Result British victory
Returning to France after three years in the Indian Ocean, Linois saw distant sails at 3 am and closed in Marengo, hoping for a merchant convoy. By the time he saw that it was Warren's squadron he could not outrun the flagship HMS London, while the frigate Belle Poule was run down by HMS Amazon. Both French ships surrendered after three and a half hours of bloody fighting.
Why it is remembered It ended Linois's three-year raiding cruise. Napoleon never exchanged him and refused to employ him at sea again.
Sources differ One account places the action in the mid-Atlantic; another account gives off the Canary Islands.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: C. I. W., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Third Coalition
Action of 21 April 1806 Single-ship action
21 April 1806 · Off the south east coast of southern Africa, beyond the Cape of Good Hope
Fought between France against Britain
Commanders César-Joseph Bourayne (France); John Osborn (Britain)
Forces 1 French 40-gun frigate against 2 British ships of the line escorting a convoy
Ships Cannonière, HMS Tremendous
Losses France: 7 killed, 25 wounded. Britain: none.
Result Inconclusive; the French frigate escaped
The French frigate Cannonière met a strongly escorted British convoy and turned away, but was caught by the 74-gun HMS Tremendous. Bourayne handled his ship so skilfully that Tremendous's batteries were rarely brought to bear and was himself threatening to rake her. Cannonière broke away and escaped.
Why it is remembered Bourayne's seamanship against a much stronger ship is the subject of an 1835 painting.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Pierre-Julien Gilbert, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Caribbean campaign of 1803 to 1810)
Action of 23 August 1806 Single-ship action
23 August 1806 · Off Havana, Cuba
Fought between Britain against Spain
Commanders Charles Lydiard, Charles Brisbane (Britain); Pedro Pablo de Sanguineto y Basso (Spain, killed)
Forces 2 British frigates against 1 Spanish frigate, 12 gunboats and 1 shore battery
Ships HMS Anson, HMS Arethusa, Pomona
Losses Britain: 2 killed, 32 wounded. Spain: 317 captured, Pomona captured, 6 gunboats captured, 3 gunboats destroyed.
Result British victory
Off Havana the British frigates HMS Anson and HMS Arethusa attacked the Spanish frigate Pomona, which was supported by gunboats and a shore battery. Pomona was captured, the battery silenced and the gunboats defeated.
Why it is remembered The capture is the subject of a painting by Thomas Whitcombe.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Томас Виткомб, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Atlantic campaign of 1806)
Action of 25 September 1806 Convoy battle
25 September 1806 · Off Rochefort, Bay of Biscay
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Sir Samuel Hood (Britain, wounded); Éléonore-Jean-Nicolas Soleil (France)
Forces 6 British ships of the line and 1 brig against 5 French frigates and 2 corvettes carrying troops and stores
Ships HMS Monarch, HMS Centaur, HMS Mars, HMS Windsor Castle
Losses Britain: 9 killed, 29 wounded. France: 4 frigates captured; killed and wounded unknown.
Result British victory
A French squadron bound for the West Indies with troops and supplies was sighted by Hood's blockading squadron a few hours after leaving Rochefort. The heavily laden French ships were overhauled after a five hour chase in strong winds and split up: one frigate ran north and was caught by HMS Mars, while another with the two corvettes outran HMS Windsor Castle. The main body fought Monarch and Hood's flagship Centaur hard, severely wounding Hood, but surrendered one by one.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Joseph R. Hamble / John Heaviside Clark / Edward Orme, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars
Action of 9 July 1806 Single-ship action
9 July 1806 · Little Basses Reef, off the southern coast of Ceylon
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Robert Plampin (Britain); Jacques Perroud (France)
Forces 1 British 74-gun ship of the line and 1 16-gun brig against 1 French 34-gun privateer frigate
Ships Bellone, HMS Powerful, HMS Rattlesnake
Losses Britain: 2 killed, 11 wounded. France: 1 killed, 6 to 7 wounded, Bellone captured.
Result British victory
The privateer Bellone was chased off Ceylon by the brig HMS Rattlesnake, and in the afternoon a third ship appeared: HMS Powerful, a 74 disguised as an East Indiaman. Light winds and Rattlesnake's pursuit kept Bellone from escaping, and Powerful opened fire at 5 pm. Bellone held out for nearly two hours and did more damage than she received before she was taken.
Why it is remembered Bellone was taken into the Royal Navy, and the action later raised questions among historians about the efficiency of British gunnery.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Auguste Mayer, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Java campaign of 1806 to 1807)
Raid on Batavia (1806) Raid
27 November 1806 · Batavia (Jakarta), Java
Fought between Britain against the Kingdom of Holland
Commanders Sir Edward Pellew (Britain); F. W. C. van de Sande (Holland)
Forces 4 British ships of the line, 2 frigates and 1 brig against 1 Dutch frigate, 1 corvette, 6 brigs, 22 merchant ships and 1 gun battery
Ships Phoenix, HMS Terpsichore, Sir Francis Drake
Losses Britain: 1 killed, 4 wounded. Holland: 1 frigate, 6 brigs and 20 merchant ships destroyed, 1 corvette and 2 merchant ships captured.
Result British victory
Pellew brought a squadron to Batavia to destroy the Dutch squadron, only to find that its ships of the line had left for Griessie a month before. The frigate Phoenix and six smaller warships in the bay were driven ashore by their crews to avoid action, and the British burnt the wrecks.
Why it is remembered It weakened Batavia as a Dutch base and was followed in 1807 by the raid on Griessie. It is the subject of an 1824 painting showing the frigates Sir Francis Drake and Terpsichore attacking Phoenix.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Luny, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Third Coalition
Battle of Blaauwberg Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Cape Town
8 to 18 January 1806 · Bloubergstrand, near Cape Town, Cape Colony
Fought between Britain against the Batavian Republic and France
Commanders David Baird, Home Riggs Popham (Britain); Jan Willem Janssens (Batavian Republic)
Forces 5,399 British troops, 4 ships of the line, 2 frigates, 3 brigs and 9 troopships against 3,122 troops, 1 ship of the line and 1 frigate
Losses Britain: 15 killed, 189 wounded, 36 drowned. Batavian Republic and France: 337 to 700 killed, wounded, captured or missing; 1 ship of the line and 1 frigate scuttled.
Result British victory; British occupation of the Cape Colony
A British expedition landed near Cape Town and defeated the Batavian defenders, and the Dutch ship of the line and frigate at the Cape were scuttled. The British then signed a treaty under the Treaty Tree in Woodstock, Cape Town, which gave them control of the colony.
Why it is remembered The Cape Colony became a permanent part of the British Empire after the Congress of Vienna, with long consequences for southern Africa. The bicentenary was commemorated in January 2006.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Third Coalition (Atlantic campaign of 1806)
Battle of San Domingo Fleet battle
Also known as Duckworth's Action
6 February 1806 · Off the southern coast of Santo Domingo, Hispaniola
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Sir John Duckworth, Alexander Cochrane (Britain); Corentin Urbain de Leissègues (France)
Forces 7 British ships of the line, 2 frigates and 2 brigs against 5 French ships of the line, 2 frigates and 1 corvette
Ships HMS Superb, HMS Northumberland, HMS Spencer, HMS Agamemnon, HMS Canopus, HMS Donegal, HMS Atlas, Impérial, Alexandre, Diomède, Jupiter, Brave
Losses Britain: 74 killed, 264 wounded, no ships lost. France: 1,510 killed or wounded, 1,156 captured, 3 ships of the line captured and 2 wrecked.
Result British victory
Duckworth's squadron found Leissègues at anchor off Santo Domingo, and the French tried to escape west towards Nizao. The British closed in two divisions; Alexandre, Brave and Jupiter surrendered after heavy fighting, while the flagship Impérial and Diomède were driven ashore, abandoned and later burned. Few of the French escaped.
Why it is remembered It was the last major battle between British and French ships of the line in open water in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Jupiter served in the Royal Navy as HMS Maida, and the action was painted by Nicholas Pocock in 1808.
Sources differ Le Moniteur Universel reported that the British had nine ships of the line and lost two, a claim contradicted by Leissègues's own report.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Nicholas Pocock, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · British invasions of the River Plate
Action of 2 June 1807 Single-ship action
2 to 3 June 1807 · Mouth of the Paraná Guazú, off Punta Gorda, River Plate
Fought between Spain against Britain
Commanders Francisco Pareja (killed), Francisco de Castro (Spain); G. Douglas (Britain)
Forces 1 Spanish felucca and 1 privateer sloop against 1 British schooner with 2 armed boats
Losses Spain: 1 killed, 8 wounded. Britain: 2 wounded, schooner disabled.
Result Spanish victory; Spanish shipping kept its passage to Buenos Aires through the Paraná
A Royal Navy schooner and two armed boats searching for Spanish shipping at the mouth of the Uruguay River met a Spanish naval felucca and a privateer sloop at the mouth of the Paraná Guazú. The British schooner was disabled.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Rafael Monleón, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Russo-Turkish War of 1806 to 1812 (Second Archipelago Expedition)
Battle of Athos Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Monte Sancto; Battle of Lemnos
1 to 2 July 1807 · Between Mount Athos and Lemnos, Aegean Sea
Fought between Russia against the Ottoman Empire
Commanders Dmitry Senyavin, Aleksey Greig (Russia); Seydi Ali Pasha, Bekir Bey (Ottoman Empire, captured)
Forces 10 Russian ships of the line with 754 guns against 10 Ottoman ships of the line, 5 frigates, 3 sloops and 2 brigs with 1,196 guns
Ships Rafail, Sadd al-bahr
Losses Russia: 78 killed, 172 wounded, no ships lost. Ottoman Empire: 3 ships of the line, 3 frigates and 2 sloops lost, over 1,000 killed and wounded, 774 prisoners.
Result Russian victory
On 1 July Senyavin caught the Ottoman fleet near Lemnos and attacked in two lines of five ships, aiming at the Ottoman flagships in the centre of the column. After a long exchange of broadsides the Russians broke off at noon and the Ottomans fled north towards Thasos, losing the frigate Sadd al-bahr on the way. On 2 July the Russians chased the stragglers, and several Ottoman ships ran aground and were burnt.
Why it is remembered Soon afterwards the Treaties of Tilsit sent Senyavin's fleet back to the Baltic. The battle was painted by Alexey Bogolyubov.
Sources differ One account gives Russian losses as 78 killed and 172 wounded; another account gives 79 killed and 189 wounded.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Alexey Bogolyubov, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Events leading to the War of 1812
Chesapeake-Leopard affair Single-ship action
22 June 1807 · Off Norfolk, Virginia
Fought between Britain against the United States
Commanders Salusbury Humphreys (Britain); James Barron (United States)
Forces 1 British fourth rate against 1 American frigate
Ships HMS Leopard, USS Chesapeake
Losses Britain: none. United States: 4 killed, 17 wounded, Chesapeake damaged.
Result British victory
HMS Leopard pursued the frigate USS Chesapeake to search her for Royal Navy deserters. Chesapeake was caught unprepared, received several broadsides and surrendered after firing a single shot. Four of her crew were taken off and tried for desertion, and one was hanged.
Why it is remembered The attack caused an uproar in the United States and calls for war. Barron was court martialled and relieved of command, and Jefferson's failure to win redress led to the Embargo of 1807.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Fred S. Cozzens, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars
Battle of Copenhagen (1807) Landing or siege
Also known as Bombardment of Copenhagen; Second Battle of Copenhagen
16 August to 7 September 1807 · Copenhagen, Denmark
Fought between Britain against Denmark-Norway
Commanders James Gambier, Lord Cathcart (Britain); Ernst Peymann (Denmark-Norway)
Forces 25,000 British troops and 25 vessels against 10,000 Danish troops, 18 ships of the line, 16 frigates, 9 brigs and 26 gunboats
Losses Britain: 42 killed, 145 wounded, 24 missing. Denmark-Norway: 300 killed or wounded; 18 ships of the line, 16 frigates, 9 brigs and 26 gunboats captured. Civilians: 195 killed, 768 wounded.
Result British victory
Fearing that France would seize the large Danish navy, Britain sent an army under Lord Cathcart and a fleet under Admiral Gambier to Copenhagen. British troops landed at Vedbæk on 16 August, besieged the city and defeated a Danish army at Køge on 29 August. A bombardment beginning on 2 September set the city on fire, the defenders sued for peace on 5 September and surrendered two days later, and most of the Danish navy was sailed to England while ships on the stocks were destroyed.
Why it is remembered It drove Denmark into alliance with France and began the Gunboat War and the Anglo-Russian War. It gave rise to the verb to Copenhagenize, meaning the pre-emptive seizure of a nation's fleet at anchor, and Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg painted the burning city in 1808.
Sources differ One account gives 18,000 soldiers and 17 warships and the British arrival on 15 August; another account gives 25,000 men and 25 vessels and dates the battle from 15 August.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Russo-Turkish War of 1806 to 1812 (Second Archipelago Expedition)
Battle of the Dardanelles (1807) Fleet battle
22 May 1807 (10 May Old Style) · Mouth of the Dardanelles
Fought between Russia against the Ottoman Empire
Commanders Dmitry Senyavin (Russia); Seyid Ali (Ottoman Empire)
Forces 10 Russian ships of the line and 1 frigate against 8 Ottoman ships of the line, 6 frigates and more than 50 smaller vessels
Ships Tverdyi, Uriil, Venus
Losses Russia: 26 killed, 56 wounded, no ships lost. Ottoman Empire: up to 2,000 killed and wounded, ships driven aground.
Result Russian victory
Seyid Ali's squadron left the Dardanelles on 19 May and threatened the Russian base at Tenedos, but withdrew. When the wind changed on 22 May, Senyavin, in Tverdyi, attacked the retreating Ottomans at about 6 pm and the fleets fought at close range near the mouth of the strait until about 9 pm. Next day Russian ships fired on three Ottoman ships of the line being towed into the strait and drove them aground.
Why it is remembered The Ottomans failed to break the Russian blockade, which lasted until the Battle of Athos a month later.
Sources differ One account says 2 Ottoman ships were grounded; another account describes three aground on 22 May and three ships of the line driven aground on 23 May. One account gives more than 50 smaller Ottoman vessels, a third account 55.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Alexey Bogolyubov, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Anglo-Turkish War of 1807 to 1809
Dardanelles operation (1807) Raid
Also known as Duckworth's passage of the Dardanelles
19 February to 3 March 1807 · Dardanelles and the approaches to Constantinople
Fought between Britain against the Ottoman Empire
Commanders John Duckworth, Sir Sidney Smith (Britain); Selim III (Ottoman Empire)
Forces 8 British ships of the line, 2 frigates and 2 bomb vessels against 1 Ottoman ship of the line, 4 frigates, 4 corvettes, 2 brigs, 2 gunboats and the forts and shore batteries
Ships HMS Canopus, HMS Standard, HMS Thunderer, HMS Glatton, HMS Lucifer, HMS Meteor
Losses Britain: 42 killed, 235 wounded, 4 missing; 6 ships of the line and 1 frigate damaged. Ottoman Empire: 4 frigates and 1 redoubt destroyed; 11 men, 1 corvette, 1 gunboat, 1 boat and 2 guns captured.
Result Ottoman victory
To keep the Ottoman Empire out of the war at Russia's request, Britain demanded the expulsion of the French envoy Sebastiani and sent Duckworth's squadron to threaten Constantinople. Duckworth forced the passage of the Dardanelles on 19 February 1807 under orders to bombard the capital and seize the Ottoman fleet. The assault on the city's defences failed and the squadron came back out through the strait, damaged, by early March; four Russian ships of the line under Senyavin joined only after the exit.
Why it is remembered It was a failed attempt to coerce Constantinople by sea. Thomas Whitcombe painted the squadron forcing the Dardanelles.
Sources differ One account says Collingwood chose eight ships of the line and four frigates; another account gives 8 ships of the line, 2 frigates and 2 bomb vessels.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Java campaign of 1806 to 1807)
Raid on Griessie Raid
Also known as Raid on Gresik
5 to 11 December 1807 · Griessie (Gresik), near Surabaya, Java
Fought between Britain against the Kingdom of Holland
Commanders Sir Edward Pellew (Britain); William Cowell (Holland)
Forces 2 British ships of the line, 2 frigates and 4 sloops against 3 Dutch ships of the line, 1 merchant ship and 1 gun battery
Losses Britain: 1 killed, 4 wounded. Holland: 3 ships of the line and 1 merchant ship scuttled, 1 gun battery destroyed.
Result British victory
Pellew's squadron appeared off Griessie on 5 December 1807 and demanded the surrender of the Dutch ships of the line sheltering there. Cowell refused and seized the boat party carrying the message, and Pellew advanced up the river, exchanging fire with a battery on Madura. The governor at Surabaya overruled Cowell and agreed to surrender, but Cowell had already scuttled the ships, and the British burnt the wrecks and destroyed the stores and the battery.
Why it is remembered It destroyed the last Dutch naval force in the East Indies and completed British control of the route to China.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: James Northcote, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Caribbean campaign of 1803 to 1810)
Invasion of the Danish West Indies (1807) Landing or siege
Also known as Second British invasion of the Danish West Indies
22 to 25 December 1807 · Saint Thomas and Saint Croix, Danish West Indies
Fought between Britain against Denmark-Norway
Commanders Alexander Cochrane (Britain); Hans Lillienskjøld (Denmark-Norway)
Forces 5 British ships of the line, 7 frigates, 7 sloops, 1 schooner and 2 brigs; Danish strength unknown
Losses Britain: minimal. Denmark-Norway: all forces surrendered.
Result British victory
A British fleet took Saint Thomas on 22 December and Saint Croix on 25 December 1807. The Danes did not resist and the invasion was bloodless.
Why it is remembered Britain held the islands until 20 November 1815, when they were returned to Denmark.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Camille Pissarro, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Fourth Coalition; Franco-Swedish War
Siege of Kolberg (1807) Landing or siege
Also known as Siege of Colberg; Siege of Kołobrzeg
20 March to 2 July 1807 · Kolberg (Kołobrzeg), Pomerania
Fought between France and allies against Prussia, with British and Swedish naval support
Commanders Claude Victor-Perrin, Édouard Mortier, Louis Henri Loison, Pietro Teulié (killed) (France and allies); August von Gneisenau, L. M. von Lucadou, Joachim Nettelbeck, Ferdinand von Schill (Prussia)
Forces 14,000 French and allied troops against 6,000 Prussians with 230 guns, supported by a British vessel and a Swedish frigate of 46 guns
Losses France and allies: 5,000 killed, wounded or captured. Prussia: 3,000 killed, wounded or captured.
Result Siege lifted by the Peace of Tilsit
French, Italian, Polish and German troops besieged Kolberg, the last Prussian fortress in Pomerania, from March 1807. Gneisenau's garrison held the eastern approaches around the Wolfsberg sconce, with a British and a Swedish vessel firing in support from the Baltic, while the besiegers later turned on the port north of the town. Fighting stopped on 2 July when Prussia accepted peace after the Russian defeat at Friedland.
Why it is remembered Kolberg was one of the few Prussian fortresses still held at the end of the war, and the siege became a Prussian myth later used in Nazi propaganda. A memorial to Nettelbeck and Gneisenau once stood in the town.
Sources differ The French figure of 41 guns is marked as dubious in the main account.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Caribbean campaign of 1803 to 1810)
Capture of the Jeune Richard Single-ship action
1 October 1807 · Off Barbados, Caribbean Sea
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders William Rogers (Britain)
Forces 1 British packet ship against 1 French privateer with a much larger crew
Ships Windsor Castle, Jeune Richard
Losses Britain: 13 killed or wounded. France: 54 killed or wounded, Jeune Richard captured.
Result British victory
The packet ship Windsor Castle, under her acting captain William Rogers, beat off repeated attacks by the privateer Jeune Richard. Rogers then boarded her, overpowered her much larger crew, drove them below decks and took the privateer as a prize.
Why it is remembered The victory was widely reported and Rogers and his crew were hailed as heroes and richly rewarded. Samuel Drummond painted the capture in 1808.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Samuel Drummond, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars
Action of 10 November 1808 Single-ship action
10 November 1808 · Off Lorient, Bay of Biscay
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Michael Seymour (Britain); Jacques Pinsum (France, killed)
Forces 1 British frigate, with 2 more ships arriving at the end, against 1 French frigate carrying over 100 soldiers and supplies for Martinique
Ships HMS Amethyst, Thétis, HMS Triumph, HMS Shannon
Losses Britain: 19 killed, 51 wounded. France: 135 killed, 102 wounded, Thétis captured.
Result British victory
The frigate Thétis sailed for Martinique with flour, military stores and over 100 soldiers, but was seen by HMS Amethyst of the inshore squadron before she had cleared the coast. Seymour closed with her while using heavy, accurate gunfire to keep the soldiers from boarding, and after more than six hours, with over 130 French dead including the captain, Amethyst's crew stormed and took her. HMS Triumph and HMS Shannon arrived minutes later and helped secure the prize.
Why it is remembered The loss weakened Martinique, which was invaded and taken in January 1809. Thomas Whitcombe painted the capture.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Gunboat War
Action of 2 March 1808 Single-ship action
2 March 1808 · Off Scarborough, North Sea
Fought between Britain against Denmark-Norway
Commanders George Langford (Britain); Jørgen Jørgensen (Denmark-Norway)
Forces 1 British 18-gun brig-sloop against 1 Danish 28-gun two-decker brig
Ships HMS Sappho, Admiral Juel
Losses Britain: 2 wounded. Denmark-Norway: 1 killed, 2 wounded, Admiral Juel captured.
Result British victory
HMS Sappho sighted the Danish brig Admiral Juel steering to intercept merchant ships and chased her. After a short engagement Sappho captured her.
Why it is remembered The action was painted by Francis Sartorius the younger.
Sources differ The Danish vessel appears in sources as Admiral Juel, Admiral Yawl, Admiral Yorol and Admiral Juul. The main account says no ship of this name served in the Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy and that she was a privateer.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Francis Sartorius, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars
Action of 4 April 1808 Convoy battle
4 April 1808 · Off Rota, Bay of Cádiz, Spain
Fought between Britain against Spain
Commanders Murray Maxwell (Britain)
Forces 2 British frigates and 1 brig-sloop against a Spanish convoy escorted by 20 gunboats and shore batteries
Ships HMS Alceste, HMS Mercury, HMS Grasshopper
Losses Britain: 1 killed, 2 wounded. Spain: 2 gunboats destroyed, 7 merchant ships captured.
Result British victory
HMS Alceste, HMS Mercury and HMS Grasshopper intercepted a large Spanish convoy off Rota, protected by twenty gunboats and batteries along the shore, and defeated it.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: John Carey, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Gunboat War
Battle of Alvøen Single-ship action
16 May 1808 · Off Alvøen, near Bergen, Norway
Fought between Denmark-Norway against Britain
Commanders Bielke (Denmark-Norway); George Edmund Byron Bettesworth (Britain, killed)
Forces 5 Norwegian gunboats against 1 British frigate
Ships HMS Tartar, Gelderland
Losses Denmark-Norway: 4 killed. Britain: 2 killed, including Captain Bettesworth, 12 wounded.
HMS Tartar came to Bergen looking for the Dutch privateer Gelderland, which was under repair in the harbour. On 16 May the five gunboats that made up Bergen's whole naval force rowed out and placed themselves between the town and the frigate, which lay becalmed in thick fog off Alvøen. In about an hour of fighting Tartar lost two men, among them her captain.
Why it is remembered It is an example of the gunboats Denmark-Norway built for coastal defence after losing its fleet at Copenhagen in 1807. The battle is shown in a contemporary painting.
Sources differ One account gives British losses as 2 killed; another account adds 12 wounded. A third account does not state a clear victor in its summary.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Finnish War
Battle of Bockholmssund Fleet battle
Also known as Sjöstriden vid Bockholmssund; Sjöstriden vid Fårskinnsholmarna
4 July 1808 · Bockholm sound, approaches to Åbo (Turku), Finland
Fought between Sweden against Russia
Commanders King Gustav IV Adolf, Klas Hjelmstierna, Captain Wirsén (Sweden); Pyotr Konovnitsyn (Russia)
Forces 19 Swedish gun sloops and 4 galleys, later joined by 10 more gun sloops and 6 galleys, against 22 Russian gun sloops, 6 yawls, 150 sharpshooters and four shore batteries
Ships Amadis
Losses Sweden: 12 men. Russia: 25 men. Several vessels damaged on both sides.
Result Inconclusive; the Swedish attack was broken off
After Rimito Kramp, Hjelmstierna's flotilla blockaded the Erstafjärd at the entrance to Åbo. King Gustav IV Adolf arrived in the yacht Amadis and ordered a probe against the Russian flotilla in the Bockholm sound, and Captain Wirsén's eight gun sloops were sent round its left flank but were spotted. Under Swedish fire the Russian craft fell back behind shore batteries on Runsala, Bockholmen and Hirvisalo, and darkness and the batteries forced the Swedes to break off at half past eleven at night.
Why it is remembered The Swedish king was present in person.
Sources differ The Swedish account dates the battle to 4 July 1808 but says the king arrived on 4 June.
Sources Wikipedia (SV)
Image: Per Krafft the Younger, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Peninsular War
Evacuation of La Romana's division Other action
August 1808 · Nyborg, Funen, and Langeland, Denmark
Fought between Spain and Britain against France and Denmark-Norway
Commanders Marquis of La Romana (Spain); Richard Goodwin Keats (Britain); Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte (France)
Forces 13,500 Spanish troops and a British squadron against 30,000 French and Danish troops
Ships HMS Superb, HMS Edgar, HMS Snipe, HMS Musquito, Fama, Søe-Ormen
Losses Spain: 4,500 captured (the troops who could not escape). France and Denmark: none given; the Danish brig Fama and the small Søe-Ormen overwhelmed at Nyborg.
Result Anglo-Spanish success
When Napoleon put his brother on the Spanish throne, La Romana's Spanish division serving in Denmark arranged in secret with Commodore Keats to escape. On 7 August 1808 the Spanish troops seized Nyborg, where boats from HMS Edgar attacked and overwhelmed the Danish brig Fama and the smaller Søe-Ormen; Keats took about 57 small craft to ferry the troops to Langeland. The convoy sailed to Gothenburg, and after a stormy voyage about 9,000 Spanish troops landed at Santander in October 1808.
Why it is remembered It returned a Spanish division to fight against France in the Peninsular War. The troops' oath is shown in an 1870 painting by Manuel Castellano.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Manuel Castellano, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Gunboat War
Battle of Falsterbo (1808) Convoy battle
Also known as Sjöslaget vid Falsterbo 1808
20 October 1808 · Øresund, between Dragør and Skanör
Fought between Denmark-Norway against Britain
Commanders Johan Cornelius Krieger (Denmark-Norway); John Barrett (Britain)
Forces About 25 Danish gunboats and several smaller boats against the British 64-gun ship of the line Africa, escorting with Thunder and two brigs a convoy of 137 merchant ships
Ships HMS Africa, HMS Thunder
Losses Britain: Africa badly damaged, her commander killed. Totals not given.
Result Danish success; Africa was badly damaged but the convoy later passed
Danish gunboats attacked the convoy escort HMS Africa around midday. At about 1.30 pm the wind died, leaving Africa unable to bring her broadsides to bear, and the gunboats took up positions her guns could not reach and kept up their fire until dusk at about 6.45 pm. Africa withdrew badly damaged to Karlskrona for repairs.
Why it is remembered It showed how oared gunboats could cripple a becalmed ship of the line.
Sources differ The Swedish account dates the battle to 20 October 1808 in another account and 18 October in a third account. A third account says Africa was shot to pieces, another account that she was badly damaged and escaped.
Sources Wikipedia (SV)
Image: Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Finnish War
Fighting at Kahiluoto Fleet battle
Also known as Striderna vid Kahiluoto; Sjöstriderna vid Kahiluoto
26 September to 2 October 1808 · Channel west of Kahiluoto island, Finland
Fought between Sweden against Russia
Commanders Major Sjöholm (Sweden)
Forces 10 Swedish gun sloops and 1 mortar launch against Russian forces about four times as strong
Result Swedish success
A Swedish flotilla of ten gun sloops and a mortar launch under Major Sjöholm beat back daily Russian attempts, made with four times their strength, to force the channel west of Kahiluoto.
Why it is remembered The Swedish stand protected the landing at Helsinge.
Sources Wikipedia (SV)
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Dano-Swedish War of 1808 to 1809
Battle of Furuholm Fleet battle
28 April 1808 · Furuholmen, outside Strömstad, Sweden
Fought between Sweden against Denmark-Norway
Commanders G. H. Nordberg (Sweden); Lorentz Fisker (Denmark-Norway)
Forces 5 Swedish gun sloops with 249 men and 27 guns against 16 Dano-Norwegian gun sloops and 11 gun yawls with 750 to 1,000 men and 77 guns
Losses Sweden: 4 killed, 6 to 7 severely wounded. Denmark-Norway: 10 killed, 4 severely wounded, 0 or 3 boats sunk.
Result Swedish victory
A Dano-Norwegian gunboat flotilla attacked five Swedish gun sloops at Furuholmen outside Strömstad and was beaten off despite its much greater strength.
Sources differ Sources differ on whether the Dano-Norwegians lost no boats or three boats sunk.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Finnish War
Battle of Grönvikssund Fleet battle
Also known as Skärgårdsslaget vid Grönvikssund
30 August 1808 · Grönvikssund, near Kustavi, Finnish archipelago
Fought between Sweden against Russia
Commanders Johan Ludvig Brant, Paul Adolf Sölfverarm, Carl Ulrik af Klercker (Sweden); Selivanov, Myakin (Russia)
Forces 35 Swedish gun sloops against 20 Russian gun sloops and 4 gun yawls
Losses Sweden: 2 vessels sunk, 225 killed or wounded. Russia: 9 gun sloops sunk, 114 killed or wounded (incomplete figure).
Result Swedish victory
Brant sent 35 gun sloops to secure the waters north of the Åland archipelago and met the Russian archipelago fleet at Grönvikssund. After a six hour artillery duel the Swedes gained the upper hand with the help of the wind, and the Russians fell back south towards Åbo. Nightfall ended the Swedish pursuit.
Why it is remembered The Swedish account calls it a major Swedish victory that halted the Russian advance northwards through the archipelago.
Sources differ The Russian casualty figure of 114 killed or wounded is marked as incomplete; the Swedish account gives no casualty figures.
Sources Wikipedia · Wikipedia (SV)
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Finnish War
Battle of Kimito Strait Fleet battle
Also known as Sjöstriden vid Kimitosundet
21 July 1808 · Eastern mouth of the Kimito sound, by Stora and Lilla Tallholmen, near Sandöström, Finland
Fought between Russia against Sweden
Commanders Captain Hayden (Russia); Paul Adolf Sölfverarm (Sweden)
Forces A Russian division of 1 hemmema, 1 brig, 1 yacht, 2 gun sloops, 40 yawls and 24 transports, with several hundred jäger infantry and field guns ashore, against 12 Swedish gun sloops
Losses Sweden: 46 killed and wounded, several gun sloops damaged. Russia: unknown.
Result Russian victory; the Russian division forced the passage
Blocked at Jungfrusund, the third division of the Russian archipelago fleet tried to slip round the Swedes through the narrow sound between Kimito island and the mainland, clearing old obstructions at Strömma on the way. Sölfverarm was sent to the eastern mouth of the sound to block it, but his obstructions were only half finished when Hayden attacked on 21 July. His gun sloops held the gap for three hours until fire from Russian jägers on the shore forced him back to Sandöström.
Why it is remembered Its outcome threatened the rear of the Swedish squadron in the Erstafjärd and led to the Battle of Sandöström.
Sources Wikipedia (SV)
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Anglo-Russian War
Battle of the Nargö Single-ship action
Also known as Battle of Nargen
23 June 1808 (11 June Old Style) · Off Naissaar (Nargö), northern Estonia
Fought between Britain against Russia
Commanders Walter Bathurst (Britain); Gabriel Nevelsky (Russia, captured)
Forces 1 British frigate against 1 Russian cutter
Ships HMS Salsette, Opyt
Losses Britain: unknown. Russia: 2 killed, 11 wounded, Opyt captured.
Result British victory
The Russian cutter Opyt met the British frigate HMS Salsette off the island of Naissaar and was captured after a fight.
Why it is remembered It was one of the few direct clashes of the Anglo-Russian War. The fight is shown in an 1888 painting by Leonid Blinov.
Sources differ The main account gives 11 June 1808 Old Style (23 June New Style); the caption of the Blinov painting gives 11 July 1808.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Blinov, Leonid Demyanovich (1868 to 1903), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Finnish War
Battle of Palva Sund Fleet battle
18 September 1808 · Palva Sund, near Velkua, Finnish archipelago
Fought between Russia against Sweden
Commanders Aleksey Yefimovich Myasoyedov (Russia); Salomon von Rajalin (Sweden)
Forces 70 to 80 Russian gun sloops against 31 Swedish gun sloops
Losses Sweden: 30 killed, 54 wounded, 1 gun sloop sunk. Russia: 200 killed, wounded or captured, 3 gun sloops sunk.
Result Russian victory
A Russian archipelago flotilla of 70 to 80 gun sloops fought 31 Swedish gun sloops near Velkua and won.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Wanderer602, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Finnish War
Battle of Rimito Kramp Fleet battle
30 June to 2 July 1808 · Southern end of the Airisto (Erstan), Finnish archipelago
Fought between Sweden against Russia
Commanders Klas Hjelmstjerna (Sweden); Selivanov, Myakin (Russia)
Forces 4 Swedish galleys, 15 gun sloops and 4 sloops, later joined by 4 more galleys, against 4 Russian gun sloops and 3 gun yawls, later joined by 5 gun sloops
Losses Sweden: 1 gun sloop sunk, 2 damaged. Russia: 2 gun yawls damaged.
Swedish and Russian archipelago flotillas fought at the southern end of the Airisto over three days. Afterwards Hjelmstjerna's flotilla took up a position at Fårskinnsholmarna, blocking the entrance to Åbo.
Sources Wikipedia · Wikipedia (SV)
Image: plaque: Eero Auvinen and Antti Vaalikivi photograph: Wanderer602, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Peninsular War
Siege of Roses (1808) Landing or siege
Also known as Siege of Rosas
7 November to 5 December 1808 · Roses (Rosas), Catalonia, Spain
Fought between France and Italy against Spain and Britain
Commanders Laurent Gouvion Saint-Cyr, Honoré Reille (France); Domenico Pino (Italy); Peter O'Daly (Spain); Thomas Cochrane (Britain)
Forces 23,000 French and Italian troops (over 13,000 at the siege itself) against 3,500 Spanish and Catalan defenders with 58 guns, supported by 1 British third rate, 1 frigate and 2 bomb ketches
Ships HMS Imperieuse
Losses France and Italy: 1,000. Spain: 3,166 and 58 guns captured.
Result French victory
Gouvion Saint-Cyr's corps, marching to relieve the French in Barcelona, besieged the haven of Roses, its citadel and the headland Trinity Castle. British warships under Captain Hallowell bombarded the French lines, and men from Cochrane's frigate HMS Imperieuse helped Catalan troops hold the castle. The French siege lines still closed in and the citadel capitulated; the British took the castle's defenders off by sea.
Why it is remembered Cochrane's defence of Trinity Castle is one of the better known episodes of his career; the siege itself delayed the French advance on Barcelona.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Gunboat War
Battle of Saltholm Convoy battle
9 June 1808 · Off Saltholm, Øresund, near Copenhagen
Fought between Denmark-Norway against Britain
Commanders Johan Krieger (Denmark-Norway); George Wood (Britain)
Forces 21 Dano-Norwegian gunboats and 7 mortar boats against 3 British brig-sloops and 1 bomb vessel escorting 70 merchant ships
Ships HMS Turbulent, HMS Piercer, HMS Charger, HMS Thunder
Losses Britain: HMS Turbulent and 12 or 13 merchant ships captured. Denmark-Norway: unknown.
Result Dano-Norwegian victory
A convoy of 70 merchant ships left Malmö under escort and was attacked off Saltholm by Danish and Norwegian gunboats. In a near calm the oared gunboats rowed up and boarded several merchantmen, while the rearmost escort HMS Turbulent and the bomb vessel Thunder fought them. The battle lasted twenty minutes; Turbulent was dismasted and struck, but her resistance let most of the convoy escape.
Why it is remembered It was the only convoy to suffer a heavy loss to the Danish gunboats, and merchants in Hull published a protest against the Royal Navy. Wood was acquitted at his court martial.
Sources differ Sources give 12 or 13 merchant ships captured.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Finnish War
Battle of Sandöström Fleet battle
Also known as Skärgårdsslaget vid Sandöström
2 to 3 August 1808 · Sandöström sound at Karuna, near Kimito, Åbo archipelago, Finland
Fought between Russia against Sweden
Commanders Lodewijk van Heiden, Pyotr Dodt (Russia); Önnert Jönsson (mortally wounded), Klas Hjelmstjerna, Paul Adolf Sölfverarm (Sweden)
Forces 12 Russian gun sloops and 38 gun yawls against 22 Swedish gun sloops and a 4-gun battery on Rövarholmen
Losses Russia: 121 killed, 200 wounded, 35 vessels damaged. Sweden: 36 killed, 93 wounded, 12 vessels damaged.
Result Russian victory
The Russian archipelago fleet attacked the Swedish gun sloops holding the Sandöström sound. Using their greater numbers and boats sent round the flanks, the Russians broke the Swedish line and stormed the battery on Rövarholmen, and the Swedish commander Önnert Jönsson was mortally wounded. The Swedes withdrew under Sölfverarm, partly covered by Hjelmstjerna's reinforcements.
Why it is remembered The victory allowed the Russian archipelago fleets to join forces.
Sources differ The English account gives the Russians 12 gun sloops and 38 gun yawls; the Swedish account gives 11 gun sloops and 44 gun yawls. The Swedish account gives no overall casualty figures.
Sources Wikipedia · Wikipedia (SV)
Image: Wanderer602, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Anglo-Turkish War of 1807 to 1809
Battle of Skopelos Single-ship action
Also known as Action of 5 to 6 July 1808
5 to 6 July 1808 · Off Skopelos, Aegean Sea
Fought between Britain against the Ottoman Empire
Commanders John Stewart (Britain); Scandril Küçük Ali, Duragardi Ali (Ottoman Empire)
Forces 1 British 38-gun frigate against 1 Ottoman 52-gun frigate and 1 26-gun corvette
Ships HMS Seahorse, Bedr-i Zafer, Alis Fezzan
Losses Britain: 5 killed, 10 wounded. Ottoman Empire: 170 killed, 200 wounded, Bedr-i Zafer captured.
Result British victory
The British frigate HMS Seahorse fought the larger Ottoman frigate Bedr-i Zafer and the corvette Alis Fezzan off Skopelos. Bedr-i Zafer surrendered after a hard fight, while Alis Fezzan drew off damaged.
Why it is remembered The capture is the subject of a painting by Thomas Buttersworth.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Buttersworth, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Peninsular War
Capture of the Rosily Squadron Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Poza de Santa Isabel
9 to 14 June 1808 · Cádiz harbour, Spain
Fought between Spain against France
Commanders Juan Ruiz de Apodaca, Tomás de Morla (Spain); François Étienne de Rosily-Mesros (France)
Forces 5 Spanish ships of the line, 1 frigate, numerous gunboats and at least 2,000 sailors and militia against 5 French ships of the line and 1 frigate with 4,000 sailors
Losses France: 13 killed, 46 wounded, 3,676 captured, 5 ships of the line and 1 frigate captured. Spain: 4 killed, 50 wounded, 15 gunboats sunk.
Result Spanish victory
Rosily's squadron had stayed in Cádiz under British blockade since Trafalgar. After the Second of May uprising in Madrid turned Spain against France, Spanish ships, gunboats and batteries engaged the French squadron for five days, and on 14 June Rosily surrendered all his ships.
Why it is remembered It removed the last French squadron from Cádiz at the start of the Peninsular War. The surrender is shown in a painting of Rosily yielding to Apodaca.
Sources differ One account says 4,000 seamen surrendered; another account gives 3,676 captured.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Asepsia, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Gunboat War
Battle of Zealand Point Single-ship action
22 March 1808 · Off Zealand, Kattegat, Denmark
Fought between Britain against Denmark-Norway
Commanders George Parker (Britain); Carl Wilhelm Jessen (Denmark-Norway)
Forces 3 British ships of the line and 1 frigate against 1 Danish ship of the line
Losses Britain: 5 killed, 48 wounded, 1 missing. Denmark-Norway: 55 killed, 88 wounded, 1 ship of the line destroyed.
Result British victory
Three British ships of the line and a frigate intercepted the last Danish ship of the line off Zealand. After a fight in which she lost 55 killed and 88 wounded, she was destroyed and her captain, Carl Wilhelm Jessen, surrendered.
Why it is remembered It cost the Danish navy its last ship of the line. The battle is shown in a painting by A. G. Gross.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: A.G. Gross, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Caribbean campaign of 1803 to 1810)
Action of 10 February 1809 Single-ship action
8 to 10 February 1809 · Atlantic Ocean north of the Leeward and Virgin Islands
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Hugh Pigot (Britain); Jean-Baptiste-Augustin Rousseau (France, killed)
Forces 2 British frigates and 3 brig-sloops against 1 French frigate
Ships Junon, HMS Horatio, HMS Latona
Losses Britain: 7 killed, 33 wounded. France: 130 killed or wounded, Junon captured.
Result British victory
The French frigate Junon, carrying trade goods from the Îles des Saintes to France, was sighted in the Virgin Islands on 8 February and chased north into the Atlantic for two days. HMS Horatio and HMS Latona brought her to action in a bitter running fight, and the badly damaged Junon surrendered.
Why it is remembered Junon served in the Royal Navy under the same name until a French convoy recaptured and destroyed her less than a year later.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: George Romney, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Mauritius campaign of 1809 to 1811)
Action of 18 November 1809 Convoy battle
18 November 1809 · Bay of Bengal
Fought between France against the East India Company
Commanders Jacques Hamelin (France); John Stewart (East India Company)
Forces 2 French frigates and 1 brig against 3 East Indiamen
Ships Windham, Manche, Vénus, HMS Magicienne
Losses France: none. East India Company: 4 killed, 2 wounded, 3 merchant ships captured.
Result French victory
Part of Hamelin's raiding squadron met a convoy of three East Indiamen bound for India. The largest, Windham, attacked the frigate Manche and duelled her for an hour before escaping, while the other two Indiamen surrendered after token resistance. Windham was caught five days later by Hamelin's flagship Vénus.
Why it is remembered A cyclone a month later scattered the squadron, and British prisoners helped save Vénus; Windham was recaptured by HMS Magicienne off Isle de France. The loss of this and other convoys led the Royal Navy to strengthen its forces in the Indian Ocean by 1810.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Collins, John (artist); Turner, Charles (engraver and publisher), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Caribbean campaign of 1803 to 1810)
Action of 22 January 1809 Single-ship action
22 January 1809 · Off Pointe-Noire, Guadeloupe
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Samuel Pechell (Britain); Pierre-Nicolas Lahalle (France)
Forces 2 British frigates and 1 sloop against 1 French frigate under a shore battery
Ships Topaze, HMS Cleopatra, HMS Hazard, HMS Confiance
Losses Britain: 2 killed, 1 wounded. France: 12 killed, 14 wounded, Topaze captured.
Result British victory
The frigate Topaze, carrying flour from Brest for Cayenne, was driven off by HMS Confiance and took refuge under the batteries of Guadeloupe. Found at anchor off Pointe-Noire by the brig HMS Hazard, she was attacked by two frigates led by Pechell in HMS Cleopatra and captured despite heavy fire from the battery above the anchorage.
Why it is remembered It was part of the blockade before the invasion of Martinique, which began six days later.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Gold, Joyce (publisher) (publisher); Pocock, Nicholas (artist); Thomas Medland (engraver), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars
Action of 27 February 1809 Single-ship action
27 February 1809 · 12 nautical miles off Toulon, France
Fought between France against Britain
Commanders Bernard Dubourdieu, François-Gilles Montfort (France); Charles Otter (Britain)
Forces 2 French frigates against 1 British frigate
Ships Pénélope, Pauline, HMS Proserpine
Losses France: none. Britain: 1 killed, 12 wounded, Proserpine captured.
Result French victory
The frigates Pénélope and Pauline came out of Toulon to catch HMS Proserpine, which was watching the port. Pénélope crept up undetected and then posed as a British frigate arriving to relieve Proserpine, getting within gun range before she was recognised. With Pauline's help she forced Proserpine to strike after an hour's fight.
Why it is remembered Proserpine served in the French Navy until 1865. Otter was held prisoner until 1814, then court martialled and honourably acquitted. The action is illustrated by Antoine Roux.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Antoine Roux, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Mauritius campaign of 1809 to 1811)
Action of 31 May 1809 Convoy battle
31 May 1809 · Bay of Bengal
Fought between France against the East India Company
Commanders Jean Féretier (France); John Dale (East India Company)
Forces 1 French frigate against 3 East Indiamen
Ships Caroline
Losses France: 1 killed, 4 wounded. East India Company: 6 killed, 4 wounded, 2 merchant ships captured.
Result French victory
The French frigate Caroline attacked an East India Company convoy of three Indiamen carrying goods worth over 500,000 pounds. The merchant ships fought with their own guns but were defeated one by one, and only the smallest escaped.
Why it is remembered It was the first of a series of attacks on valuable convoys by French cruisers from Isle de France and Isle Bonaparte.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars
Action of 6 April 1809 Single-ship action
6 April 1809 · Bay of Biscay
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Michael Seymour, Robert Mends (Britain); Jean Dupotet (France)
Forces 1 British frigate, with HMS Emerald and HMS Arethusa in support, against 1 French 40-gun frigate
Ships HMS Amethyst, HMS Emerald, HMS Arethusa, Niémen
Losses Britain: 8 killed, 38 wounded. France: 47 killed, 73 wounded, Niémen captured.
Result British victory
The new frigate Niémen left Brest on 5 April with naval stores for the squadron at Isle de France and was sighted at once by frigates watching for her. HMS Amethyst kept contact through the night and brought her to action the next morning, and both ships were badly damaged in a hard fight. When HMS Arethusa arrived, the French captain surrendered.
Why it is remembered The loss of Niémen's stores hampered the French squadron at Isle de France. Mends of Arethusa claimed the victory, starting a lasting quarrel with Seymour. The action was engraved by Robert Dodd.
Sources differ Captain Mends of Arethusa claimed the victory, which Seymour of Amethyst disputed.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Robert Dodd, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Fifth Coalition
Battle of the Basque Roads Raid
Also known as Battle of Aix Roads; Bataille de l'île d'Aix; Affaire des brûlots
11 to 24 April 1809 · Basque Roads, off the Île d'Aix and the mouth of the Charente, near Rochefort, France
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders James Gambier, Lord Cochrane (Britain); Zacharie Allemand (France)
Forces 11 British ships of the line, 7 frigates, 4 brig-sloops, 2 bomb vessels, 6 brigs, 1 schooner, 2 cutters, 3 rocket barges and fireships against 11 French ships of the line and 4 frigates
Ships HMS Imperieuse, HMS Caledonia, HMS Mediator, HMS Aetna, HMS Pallas, HMS Unicorn, HMS Aigle, HMS Emerald, HMS Beagle, HMS Indefatigable, HMS Revenge, HMS Valiant, HMS Theseus, HMS Caesar, Océan, Ville de Varsovie, Tonnerre, Aquilon, Calcutta, Indienne
Losses Britain: 13 killed, 30 wounded. France: 150 to 200 killed or wounded; Ville de Varsovie, Tonnerre, Aquilon, the storeship Calcutta and the frigate Indienne destroyed.
Result British victory
After failing to break out of the Bay of Biscay, the French Atlantic Fleet anchored in the Basque Roads, watched by Gambier's fleet. On the night of 11 April Cochrane led fireships and explosion vessels into the roads; HMS Mediator broke the boom, and in panic most of the French ships cut their cables and ran aground. Gambier refused to bring in the main fleet, so Cochrane fought on for days with little support and destroyed several ships, while most of the French refloated and escaped up the Charente.
Why it is remembered Cochrane publicly attacked Gambier, who was cleared by a court martial packed with his supporters, and Cochrane's naval career was ruined; historians have almost all condemned Gambier. In France several captains were court martialled and Jean-Baptiste Lafon of Calcutta was shot. Thomas Whitcombe painted the destruction of the French fleet.
Sources differ One account lists 3 ships of the line destroyed, 1 ship of the line scuttled and 1 frigate scuttled; another account names five ships destroyed, one of them a storeship. French casualties are an estimate, the exact figure being unknown.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Caribbean campaign of 1803 to 1810)
Invasion of Martinique (1809) Landing or siege
30 January to 24 February 1809 · Martinique, French West Indies
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Sir Alexander Cochrane, George Beckwith (Britain); Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse (France)
Forces 10,000 British troops with 6 ships of the line, 8 frigates and 9 brigs against 4,900 French troops and 3 brigs
Losses Britain: 97 killed, 365 wounded, 18 missing. France: 900 killed, wounded or missing.
Result British victory
A British expedition landed on the southern and northern coasts of Martinique, defeated the French regulars in the central highlands and routed the militia in the south. By 9 February only Fort Desaix, guarding Fort-de-France, still held out. After a 15 day bombardment its garrison, with 200 casualties, surrendered.
Why it is remembered It cost France an important naval base in the West Indies. A French relief squadron arrived too late and was scattered in April 1809, and Guadeloupe was taken the following year.
Sources differ One account gives the expedition as 29 ships; another account lists 23 warships (6 ships of the line, 8 frigates, 9 brigs).
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Coloured woodcut, published by G Thompson, London, 17 June 1809., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars
Battle of Les Sables-d'Olonne Fleet battle
24 February 1809 · Off Les Sables-d'Olonne, Bay of Biscay, France
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Robert Stopford (Britain); Pierre Roch Jurien (France)
Forces 3 British ships of the line, 1 frigate and 1 sloop against 3 French frigates under shore batteries
Ships HMS Defiance
Losses Britain: 3 killed, 31 wounded. France: 24 killed, 51 wounded; all three frigates driven ashore.
Result British victory
Jurien's three frigates left Lorient to join Willaumez's fleet from Brest, missed the rendezvous and were chased by Stopford's blockading squadron. They anchored under the batteries of Les Sables-d'Olonne, but Stopford attacked at 9 am on 24 February with HMS Defiance in the main account. The French ships were overwhelmed one by one and by shortly after noon all three had been driven ashore with heavy losses.
Why it is remembered Two days later Willaumez's fleet was trapped in the Basque Roads, where it was attacked in April.
Sources differ One account dates the French sailing and the battle to 23 February in its first line and the attack to 24 February. British histories say all three frigates were destroyed; French histories say they were salvaged but found beyond repair, and another account lists 1 frigate wrecked.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unspecified, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Peninsular War
Battle of Maguelone Convoy battle
25 October 1809 · Off Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone, near Sète, France; the convoy was later attacked off Roses
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Cuthbert Collingwood (Britain); François-André Baudin (France)
Forces 15 British ships of the line and 5 frigates against 3 French ships of the line, 2 frigates and several transports
Ships Robuste
Losses France: 2 ships of the line run aground and scuttled; most of the convoy later destroyed and 3 ships captured at Roses.
Result British victory
A French squadron escorting a convoy was chased by British ships and, covering the convoy's retreat, tried to escape through the shallows near Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone. Two French ships of the line ran aground and were stripped of guns and equipment and scuttled by their crews, while the rest reached Toulon. On 1 November a British cutting-out party attacked the convoy off Roses, destroying most of it and taking three ships.
Why it is remembered The loss of the stranded Robuste is shown in a painting by Antoine Roux.
Sources differ One account describes a six-ship British squadron; another account gives 15 ships of the line and 5 frigates.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: François Geoffroi Roux, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Piracy in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf campaign of 1809 Raid
September to December 1809 · Strait of Hormuz and Ras Al Khaimah, Persian Gulf
Fought between Britain and the East India Company against the Al Qasimi of Ras Al Khaimah
Commanders John Wainwright, Lionel Smith (Britain); Hassan bin Rahma, Hassan bin Ali (Al Qasimi)
Forces A Royal Navy and East India Company squadron led by the frigate HMS Chiffonne, with troops from Bombay, against about 2,000 Al Qasimi
Ships HMS Chiffonne, Minerva
Losses Britain: at Ras Al Khaimah 5 killed and 34 wounded; in later operations 70 killed and wounded. Al Qasimi: at Ras Al Khaimah 50 vessels burned; in later operations 50 killed and 31 vessels burned.
Result British victory, with limited lasting effect
After attacks on British shipping increased, a joint Royal Navy and East India Company force under Captain John Wainwright was sent against the Al Qasimi. It destroyed three Al Qasimi bases and over 80 vessels, among them the largest Al Qasimi ship, the converted merchantman Minerva, and attacked Ras Al Khaimah and the fort of Luft. The British re-embarked without consolidating their gains, and many vessels escaped into uncharted inlets.
Why it is remembered Attacks resumed by 1811, and Wainwright's reports on the poor charts led to better British surveys of the Gulf.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: John Heaviside Clark / After Richard Temple, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Fifth Coalition
Battle of the Procida Canal Fleet battle
Also known as Bataille navale de Procida; Battaglia del Canale di Procida
26 June 1809 · Channel between Procida and Ischia and the Phlegraean peninsula, entrance to the Gulf of Naples
Fought between Kingdom of Naples (French Empire) against Britain
Commanders Giovanni Caracciolo, Alfonso Sozi Carafa (Naples); George Martin, Thomas Staines, Robert Mitford (Britain)
Forces 47 Neapolitan gunboats, 1 frigate and 1 corvette against 12 British gunboats, 11 frigates, 1 brig and 1 cutter
Losses Naples: 8 gunboats sunk, 5 captured. Britain: 1 brig sunk and 1 other vessel.
Result Neapolitan victory
A Neapolitan flotilla of gunboats with a frigate and a corvette fought a British force in the Procida channel at the northern entrance to the Gulf of Naples on 26 June 1809.
Sources differ The French account claims a Neapolitan victory although it gives heavier Neapolitan losses; its figure of 11 British frigates is unconfirmed by any other source opened.
Sources Wikipédia (FR)
Image: Charles Landseer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars
Roquebert's expedition to the Caribbean Convoy battle
Also known as Action of 13 December 1809
13 to 18 December 1809 · East of Antigua, and Anse à la Barque, Guadeloupe
Fought between France against Britain
Commanders Dominique Roquebert (France); John Shortland (Britain, mortally wounded), Volant Vashon Ballard, Samuel James Ballard (Britain)
Forces 2 French 40-gun frigates and 2 20-gun flûtes against HMS Junon and the brig HMS Observateur on 13 December; later a British squadron including the 74-gun HMS Sceptre
Ships Renommée, Clorinde, Loire, Seine, HMS Junon, HMS Observateur, HMS Sceptre
Losses 13 December: France 21 killed, 18 wounded; Britain 20 killed, 40 wounded, Junon destroyed. At Anse à la Barque both French flûtes were destroyed.
Result French victory on 13 December, but the storeships were destroyed and the mission failed
Four French ships carrying supplies and troops for blockaded Guadeloupe were intercepted east of Antigua by the frigate HMS Junon on 13 December; she was overwhelmed and burnt, and her captain mortally wounded. Roquebert took the flûtes Loire and Seine within sight of Guadeloupe and left them, and the brig HMS Observateur raised the alarm. A British squadron drove the flûtes into Anse à la Barque, where, after HMS Sceptre arrived, two frigates attacked them and both surrendered and were destroyed by fire.
Why it is remembered It was the last French attempt to resupply Guadeloupe, which was invaded and taken a month later.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: English School, early 19th century, unknown artist, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Mauritius campaign of 1809 to 1811)
Raid on Saint-Paul Raid
21 September 1809 · Saint-Paul, Isle Bonaparte (Réunion)
Fought between Britain and the East India Company against France
Commanders Josias Rowley, Henry Sheehy Keating (Britain); Nicolas Ernault des Bruslys (France)
Forces 604 British troops, 1 ship of the line, 3 frigates, 1 sloop and 1 schooner against 1 French frigate, 1 brig, 7 to 8 merchant ships and 5 gun batteries
Ships Caroline
Losses Britain: 15 killed, 58 wounded, 3 missing. France: 1 frigate, 1 brig and 7 to 8 merchant ships captured.
Result British victory
British storming parties took the batteries above Saint-Paul, which let Rowley's squadron sail into the bay and seize the frigate Caroline and the East Indiamen she had captured in May. The British then withdrew under pressure from the island's main garrison, burning warehouses holding over 500,000 pounds of silk taken from British ships.
Why it is remembered It rehearsed the methods used in the invasion of Isle Bonaparte in July 1810. Governor des Bruslys later took his own life. Thomas Whitcombe painted the capture of Saint-Paul in 1812.
Sources differ One account dates the launch of the operation to 20 September 1809; another account gives 21 September.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Piracy in Asia
Battle of the Tiger's Mouth Fleet battle
Also known as Batalha da Boca do Tigre; Battle of Humen
September 1809 to January 1810 · Humen Strait (Boca do Tigre), Pearl River Delta, China
Fought between Portugal against the Guangdong Pirate Confederation
Commanders José Pinto Alcoforado de Azevedo e Sousa (Portugal); Cheung Po Tsai, under Ching Shih (pirates)
Forces 1 Portuguese frigate, 5 brigs and 1 lorcha against 300 to 700 pirate junks
Losses Portugal: light. Pirates: heavy.
Result Portuguese victory
A Portuguese flotilla based at Macau fought a series of engagements in the Humen Strait against the Red Flag Fleet of the pirate leader Ching Shih, commanded by her second in command Cheung Po Tsai. The pirates suffered several defeats between September 1809 and January 1810 and formally surrendered in February 1810.
Why it is remembered After her fleet surrendered, Ching Shih gave herself up to the Guangzhou authorities in return for a general pardon, ending her career as one of the most powerful pirates in history.
Sources differ The pirate fleet is given only as a range of 300 to 700 junks.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Caribbean campaign of 1803 to 1810)
Troude's expedition to the Caribbean Fleet battle
Also known as Action of 14 to 17 April 1809
February to July 1809; main action 14 to 17 April 1809 · Îles des Saintes to off Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Sir Alexander Cochrane (Britain); Amable Troude (France)
Forces 5 British ships of the line, 2 frigates and 1 brig-sloop against 3 French ships of the line and 2 frigates
Ships D'Hautpoul, HMS Recruit, Félicité, Furieuse, HMS Latona, HMS Bonne Citoyenne
Losses Britain: 11 killed, 40 wounded. France: 80 to 90 killed or wounded, D'Hautpoul captured; later the frigates Félicité and Furieuse also captured.
Result British victory
Troude's squadron left Lorient in February 1809 to relieve Martinique, arrived too late and was blockaded in the Îles des Saintes, where British troops landed and set up mortar batteries. Breaking out on the night of 14 April, the French were spotted, and the brig HMS Recruit hung on to the rearmost ship of the line D'Hautpoul until the British squadron overwhelmed her in a three day running fight that ended off Puerto Rico. The other two ships of the line reached Cherbourg, but the frigate Félicité surrendered to HMS Latona in June and Furieuse was taken by the smaller HMS Bonne Citoyenne in July.
Why it is remembered Furieuse was taken into the Royal Navy. The chase of D'Hautpoul by Recruit is shown in an engraving by G. W. Terry.
Sources differ One account gives 45 British and nearly 100 French casualties; another account gives 51 British (11 killed, 40 wounded) and 80 to 90 French.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Maurin (Antoine ?), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars
Action of 15 November 1810 Single-ship action
12 to 16 November 1810 · Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, Baie de la Seine, Normandy
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Pulteney Malcolm (Britain); Bernard-Louis Rosseau, Louis-Henri Fraycinet-Saulce (France)
Forces 2 British ships of the line and 2 frigates against 2 French frigates under shore batteries
Ships HMS Donegal, HMS Revenge, HMS Diana, HMS Niobe, Elisa, Amazone
Losses Britain: 2 killed, 9 wounded. France: 1 killed; Elisa later destroyed.
Result British victory
The frigates Elisa and Amazone left Le Havre to join the squadron at Cherbourg, were chased by HMS Diana and HMS Niobe and anchored under the batteries of La Hougue and Tatihou. On 15 November, with HMS Donegal and HMS Revenge arrived, Malcolm attacked four times under heavy fire and withdrew, then sent boats in at night with the new Congreve rockets; none is recorded as hitting, but both frigates shifted position and grounded. Amazone later escaped to Le Havre, while Elisa was set on fire and destroyed by Diana's boats on 23 December.
Why it is remembered It was an early use of Congreve rockets against ships.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Stewardson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Mauritius campaign of 1809 to 1811)
Action of 3 July 1810 Convoy battle
3 July 1810 · Off the Comoro Islands, Indian Ocean
Fought between France against the East India Company
Commanders Guy-Victor Duperré (France); Henry Meriton (East India Company)
Forces 2 French frigates and 1 brig against 3 East Indiamen
Ships Windham, Ceylon, Astell
Losses France: 22 killed, 38 wounded. East India Company: 20 killed, 76 wounded, 2 merchant ships captured.
Result French victory
Duperré's frigates attacked a convoy of three East Indiamen near the Comoros. Ceylon and the British flagship Windham held off the French long enough for Astell to escape, then surrendered after both sides had lost 20 or more killed.
Why it is remembered It was the third successful French attack on an Indian Ocean convoy in just over a year, the second capture of Windham, and the last successful attack on a British convoy in the Indian Ocean in the Napoleonic Wars.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Collins, John (artist); Turner, Charles (engraver and publisher), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars
Action of 3 May 1810 Single-ship action
3 May 1810 · Bay of Naples
Fought between Britain against France and Naples
Commanders Jahleel Brenton, George Willes, George Hoste (Britain); Raffaele de Cosa (Naples)
Forces 1 British frigate against 1 frigate, 1 corvette, 1 brig, 1 cutter and 7 gunboats
Ships HMS Spartan, Sparviere
Losses Britain: 10 killed, 22 wounded. France and Naples: Sparviere captured.
Result British victory
The British frigate HMS Spartan under Jahleel Brenton fought a squadron of eleven French and Neapolitan warships in the Bay of Naples and captured the brig Sparviere.
Why it is remembered Thomas Whitcombe painted the action in 1811.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Peninsular War
Siege of Cádiz Landing or siege
5 February 1810 to 24 August 1812 · Cádiz, Spain
Fought between Spain, Britain and Portugal against France
Commanders Manuel Lapeña, José de Zayas, Duke of Alburquerque (Spain); Thomas Graham (Britain); Claude Victor-Perrin, Jean-de-Dieu Soult (France)
Forces 17,000 to 18,000 Spanish, 3,000 to 4,000 British and 1,700 Portuguese troops with 16 warships against 60,000 to 70,000 French troops and 30 to 35 warships
Losses Allies: 896 dead, 3,706 wounded. France: 4,500 to 5,500 dead or wounded, 30 vessels destroyed.
Result Coalition victory
After taking Seville, French armies under Victor and Soult besieged the naval base of Cádiz, seat of the Spanish government, for two and a half years, bombarding the city. Relief attempts by sea failed at Fuengirola in 1810 and, from Tarifa in 1811, won the Battle of Barrosa without lifting the siege. The French withdrew from Andalusia after their defeat at Salamanca in 1812.
Why it is remembered During the siege the Cortes of Cádiz drew up a new, liberal constitution, and the city's survival kept the Spanish government alive.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Carlos Múgica y Pérez, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Mauritius campaign of 1809 to 1811)
Battle of Grand Port Fleet battle
20 to 27 August 1810 · Grand Port, Isle de France (Mauritius)
Fought between France against Britain
Commanders Guy-Victor Duperré (wounded), Jacques Hamelin (France); Samuel Pym (Britain)
Forces 5 French frigates, 1 corvette, 1 brig and 2 merchant ships against 4 British frigates and 1 troopship
Ships HMS Sirius, HMS Iphigenia, HMS Néréide, HMS Magicienne, Bellone, Minerve, Victor, Ceylon, Windham, Vénus, Manche, Astrée, Entreprenant
Losses France: 37 killed, 112 wounded, 1 merchant ship captured. Britain: 105 killed, 163 wounded, 2 frigates scuttled, 2 frigates and 1 troopship captured.
Result French victory
Pym's frigates seized the Île de la Passe at the entrance to Grand Port, but Duperré's squadron forced its way past into the anchorage, which could only be reached through narrow channels between reefs. When Pym attacked on 22 and 23 August, Sirius and Magicienne grounded and were later burnt to avoid capture, Néréide was battered into surrender by Bellone, and Iphigenia could not get within effective range. Iphigenia was taken as she tried to leave by Hamelin's squadron arriving from Port Napoleon.
Why it is remembered It was one of the worst British naval defeats of the Napoleonic Wars and is the only naval battle commemorated on the Arc de Triomphe. A monument to the British and French sailors killed was erected at Grand Port in 1899.
Sources differ French losses are given as 37 killed in one account and 36 in another account; British wounded as 163 in the order of battle and 168 in the aftermath section. Iphigenia's surrender is dated 27 August in one place and 28 August in another.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Pierre-Julien Gilbert, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Caribbean campaign of 1803 to 1810)
Invasion of Guadeloupe (1810) Landing or siege
28 January to 6 February 1810 · Guadeloupe, French West Indies
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Sir Alexander Cochrane (Britain); Jean Augustin Ernouf (France)
Forces 6,700 British troops and 3 ships of the line against 3,000 to 4,000 French troops
Losses Britain: 52 killed, 250 wounded, 7 missing. France: 500 to 600 killed or wounded, 2,500 to 3,500 captured.
Result British victory
A British expedition landed on opposite sides of Guadeloupe on 28 January 1810 and found that much of the militia had deserted. The troops pushed quickly inland until they met strong resistance on the Beaupère to St. Louis ridge outside Basse-Terre, where the French were beaten on 3 February. Ernouf opened surrender talks the next day.
Why it is remembered Guadeloupe was the last French colony in the Americas, and its capture completed the British conquest of the French Caribbean.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: William Henry Brooke, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Mauritius campaign of 1809 to 1811)
Invasion of Isle Bonaparte Landing or siege
Also known as Prise de l'île Bonaparte
7 to 9 July 1810 · Isle Bonaparte (Réunion), Mascarene Islands
Fought between Britain and the East India Company against France
Commanders Josias Rowley, Henry Sheehy Keating (Britain); Chrysostôme de Sainte-Suzanne (France)
Forces 3,650 British regulars and 5 frigates against 576 French regulars and 2,717 militia
Losses Britain: 22 killed, 79 wounded. France: unknown.
Result British victory; British occupation of Isle Bonaparte
Using Rodrigues as a base, Rowley and Keating landed two forces of sailors, soldiers, sepoys and Royal Marines on beaches either side of the capital, Saint-Denis, on 7 July 1810. Several men drowned in the heavy surf, but most got ashore and marched inland, attacking French outposts. Seeing that his demoralised garrison could not hold Saint-Denis before the militia mustered, Colonel Sainte-Suzanne surrendered the island.
Why it is remembered It took away one of the two bases of Hamelin's frigate squadron and prepared the way for the invasion of Isle de France.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Andrew Morton, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Mauritius campaign of 1809 to 1811)
Invasion of Isle de France Landing or siege
Also known as Invasion of Mauritius
29 November to 3 December 1810 · Grand Baie and Port Napoleon, Isle de France (Mauritius)
Fought between Britain and the East India Company against France
Commanders Albemarle Bertie, John Abercromby (Britain); Charles Decaen, Edmé-Martin Vandermaesen, Jean Dornal de Guy (France)
Forces 6,848 British regulars and sailors with 1 ship of the line, 12 frigates, 9 brigs, 5 smaller warships and 50 troopships against 1,300 French regulars, 10,000 militia, 6 frigates, 1 corvette, 1 brig and 2 avisos
Losses Britain: 28 killed, 94 wounded, 45 missing, 3 brigs sunk. France: casualties unknown; 6 frigates, 1 corvette, 1 brig and 2 avisos captured, with 209 heavy guns.
Result British victory; British occupation of Isle de France
After Hamelin's capture in September 1810, Rowley built up his forces and Admiral Bertie led a large expedition that landed at Grand Baie. The troops marched inland against weak opposition and won a series of small engagements before Governor Decaen surrendered Port Napoleon and the island.
Why it is remembered It removed the last French territory in the Indian Ocean. Britain kept the island as Mauritius, which remained British until 1968.
Sources differ One account says five French frigates were captured; another account gives six.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: G. Thompson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Gunboat War
Battle of Silda Single-ship action
Also known as Affæren ved Silden; Affæren ved Stadt
23 July 1810 · Near the island of Silda, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway
Fought between Britain against Denmark-Norway
Commanders Richard Byron (Britain); Gabriel Heiberg (Denmark-Norway)
Forces 2 British frigates against 2 Dano-Norwegian schooners and 1 gunboat
Ships HMS Belvidera
Losses Britain: unknown. Denmark-Norway: 4 killed, 1 schooner captured, 1 gunboat scuttled.
Result British victory
Two British frigates, one of them HMS Belvidera, attacked Dano-Norwegian gunboats near Silda and captured or destroyed several of them.
Sources differ One account says three or four gunboats were captured or destroyed; another account lists 2 schooners and 1 gunboat engaged, with 1 schooner captured and 1 gunboat scuttled. The Dano-Norwegian and British accounts of the battle differ.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars
Action of 24 March 1811 Single-ship action
24 to 25 March 1811 · Near the Gatteville lighthouse, Cape Barfleur, Normandy
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders James Macnamara (Britain); Bernard-Louis Rosseau (France)
Forces 1 British ship of the line, 2 frigates and 2 brig-sloops against 1 French frigate
Ships HMS Berwick, HMS Amelia, HMS Niobe, HMS Goshawk, HMS Hawk, Amazone
Losses Britain: 2 killed, 1 wounded. France: Amazone destroyed.
Result British victory
The frigate Amazone left Le Havre on the evening of 23 March for Cherbourg and was sighted at dawn rounding Cape Barfleur by HMS Berwick, which chased her into a bay west of the Gatteville lighthouse. Berwick and the smaller ships could not get close through the rocks and shoals, and the British planned a boat attack overnight. Next day Captain Rosseau set his ship on fire to prevent her capture.
Why it is remembered It ended the career of the last of the two Le Havre frigates whose sister Elisa had been destroyed at La Hougue in 1810.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: John Christian Schetky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Adriatic campaign of 1807 to 1814)
Action of 29 November 1811 Convoy battle
Also known as Combat de Pelagosa; Battle of Pelagosa
29 November 1811 · Off Lissa (Vis), Adriatic Sea
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Murray Maxwell, James Alexander Gordon (Britain); François Montfort (France)
Forces 3 British frigates and 1 sloop against 2 French frigates and 1 storeship carrying cannon from Corfu to Trieste
Ships HMS Alceste, HMS Active, HMS Unite, HMS Kingfisher, Pomone, Persanne, Pauline
Losses Britain: 18 killed, 43 wounded. France: 100 killed or wounded, 300 captured, Pomone and Persanne captured.
Result British victory
Maxwell's frigates intercepted a French convoy carrying cannon from Corfu to Trieste. HMS Alceste and HMS Active engaged the frigate Pomone, which surrendered, Gordon of Active losing a leg, while HMS Unite chased and took the storeship Persanne. The frigate Pauline escaped badly damaged to Ancona.
Why it is remembered It was the first squadron action in the Adriatic since Lissa, and it has been suggested that it helped turn Napoleon's plans for 1812 from the Balkans towards Russia. The fight is shown in an 1837 painting by Pierre-Julien Gilbert.
Sources differ French casualties are given as 100 killed or wounded in one account and as at least 50 in the order of battle; the figure of 300 captured is not supported by another account. Accounts differ on whether Persanne suffered any casualties.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Pierre-Julien Gilbert, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (invasion of Java)
Action of 31 July 1811 Raid
31 July 1811 · Mouth of the Indramayo river, Java
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Robert Maunsell (Britain)
Forces The boats of the British sloop Procris, with 2 flat boats, against 6 French gunboats escorting a convoy of 40 or 50 proas
Ships HMS Procris
Losses Britain: 11 wounded. France: 5 gunboats captured, 1 blown up.
Result British victory
Commander Maunsell of the sloop Procris found a convoy of 40 or 50 proas escorted by six French gunboats at the mouth of the Indramayo. His boats boarded and took five gunboats in quick succession and the sixth blew up, but the convoy escaped up the shallow, muddy river.
Why it is remembered The boat action is the subject of a painting by William John Huggins.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: William John Huggins, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Gunboat War
Battle of Anholt Landing or siege
27 March 1811 · Anholt island, Kattegat, Denmark
Fought between Britain against Denmark-Norway
Commanders James Wilkes Maurice (Britain); Jørgen Conrad de Falsen (captured), Ketil Melstedt (killed) (Denmark-Norway)
Forces 381 British marines and seamen, 1 frigate, 1 schooner and 1 brig-sloop against 1,000 Dano-Norwegian troops, 18 gunboats and 2 troopships
Losses Britain: 2 killed, 30 wounded. Denmark-Norway: 54 killed, 639 captured, 2 gunboats and 2 troopships captured.
Result British victory
Britain had held Anholt since 1809, using it in place of the lighthouse the Danes had closed. In March 1811 a Dano-Norwegian force landed from gunboats to retake it, but poor planning and supply failures left it badly beaten by Maurice's small garrison of marines and seamen.
Why it is remembered The victory won the Royal Marines many supporters among senior naval officers. Britain held Anholt until the Treaty of Kiel in 1814, and a monument to the battle stands in the island's village.
Sources differ One account dates the battle to 25 to 27 March 1811; another account gives 27 March 1811.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Gunboat War
Battle of Grimstad Bay Raid
Also known as Bataljen på Grimstad havn
16 March 1811 · Grimstad harbour, southern Norway
Fought between Denmark-Norway against Britain
Forces Norwegian volunteers with small cannon against the boats of 1 British frigate
Ships Frau Maria
Losses Britain: several killed or wounded. Denmark-Norway: unknown.
Result Norwegian victory
Boats from a British frigate enforcing the blockade of Norway rowed into Grimstad and seized the ship Frau Maria as a prize, taking her into the Vikkilen inlet. Townspeople fired on them with small cannon set up on the wharves and on Biodden.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: GusGusBrus, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815
Battle of Khakeekera Fleet battle
Also known as Maarakat Khakeekera
March 1811 · Al Khuwayr, north west of Qatar, Persian Gulf
Fought between Bahrain and Kuwait against the Emirate of Diriyah (First Saudi State)
Commanders Abdullah bin Ahmad Al Khalifa (Bahrain); Jaber I Al-Sabah (Kuwait); Rahmah ibn Jabir al-Jalhami, Ibn Ufaysan (Diriyah)
Forces 200 Bahraini and Kuwaiti ships against 60 ships of Diriyah
Losses Bahrain and Kuwait: 1,000 dead. Diriyah: 300 dead.
Result Bahraini and Kuwaiti victory
The combined fleets of Bahrain and Kuwait fought the forces of the First Saudi State, led by Rahmah ibn Jabir al-Jalhami, ruler of Dammam and some villages in Qatar, off the north west coast of Qatar. The battle ended in a Bahraini victory.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Charles Ellms, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Adriatic campaign of 1807 to 1814)
Battle of Lissa (1811) Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Vis; Bataille de Lissa; Battaglia di Lissa; Viška bitka
13 March 1811 · Off the island of Vis (Lissa), Adriatic Sea
Fought between Britain against France and the Kingdom of Italy
Commanders William Hoste (Britain); Bernard Dubourdieu (France, killed)
Forces 3 British frigates and 1 post ship against 6 French and Italian frigates, 1 brig, 2 schooners, 1 xebec and 2 gunboats carrying a battalion of Italian troops
Ships HMS Amphion, HMS Active, HMS Volage, HMS Cerberus, Favorite, Corona, Bellona, Flore, Danaé, Carolina
Losses Britain: 45 killed, 145 wounded. France and Italy: about 700 killed, wounded or captured; Favorite destroyed, Corona and Bellona captured.
Result British victory
Dubourdieu brought a dozen ships and Italian troops to seize Vis, the base from which Hoste's squadron was disrupting French shipping. As the enemy bore down, Hoste hoisted the signal “Remember Nelson”, then manoeuvred to drive the flagship Favorite ashore, where she was destroyed and Dubourdieu killed. Corona and Bellona were captured; Flore struck but sailed away, and the rest scattered to Lesina.
Why it is remembered It has been called one of the most brilliant naval achievements of the war, won against a much larger force. The captains received a commemorative medal, and a Lissa clasp was added to the Naval General Service Medal in 1849.
Sources differ British losses of 45 killed and 145 wounded exclude five men killed fighting the fire aboard Corona. French and Italian losses are an estimate of no less than 700, the precise figure being unknown.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: N. Pocock, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Events leading to the War of 1812
Little Belt affair Single-ship action
16 May 1811 · Off North Carolina, Atlantic coast of the United States
Fought between United States against Britain
Commanders John Rodgers (United States); Arthur Bingham (Britain)
Forces 1 American frigate of 56 guns against 1 British sloop of 20 guns
Ships USS President, HMS Little Belt
Losses Britain: 11 killed, 21 wounded, Little Belt badly damaged. United States: 1 wounded, President slightly damaged.
Result American victory
On the night of 16 May 1811 the frigate USS President chased the British sloop HMS Little Belt off North Carolina. After an exchange of fire Little Belt was badly damaged with 32 casualties.
Why it is remembered It was one of the incidents that led to the War of 1812.
Sources differ One account says President lost one man; another account gives 1 wounded.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: William Elmes, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Argentine War of Independence
Battle of San Nicolás Fleet battle
2 March 1811 · Paraná River, near San Nicolás, Argentina
Fought between Spanish royalists of Montevideo against the revolutionary government of Buenos Aires
Commanders Jacinto Romarate (royalists); Juan Bautista Azopardo (Buenos Aires)
Forces 7 royalist ships against 3 revolutionary ships
Losses Buenos Aires: all 3 ships captured. Royalists: unknown.
Result Royalist victory
A royalist flotilla from Montevideo attacked the first flotilla raised by the revolutionary government of Buenos Aires on the Paraná River and captured all three of its ships.
Why it is remembered It was the first naval engagement between the two sides in the Río de la Plata region after the revolution.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Justo P. Lynch, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Mauritius campaign of 1809 to 1811)
Battle of Tamatave Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Madagascar; Action of 20 May 1811
20 May 1811 · Off Tamatave, Madagascar
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Charles Marsh Schomberg (Britain); Dominique Roquebert (France, killed)
Forces 3 British frigates and 1 brig-sloop against 3 French frigates
Ships Renommée, Clorinde, Néréide
Losses Britain: 25 killed, 86 wounded. France: 156 killed or wounded, Renommée captured; Néréide surrendered five days later.
Result British victory
Roquebert's frigates, sent from Brest with troops and supplies before news arrived that Isle de France had fallen, found the island in British hands and escaped a trap. Schomberg's squadron caught them off Tamatave on 20 May, and in light winds the French at first did severe damage to the disorganised British ships. When the breeze rose Schomberg pressed his attack, and Roquebert sacrificed his flagship Renommée and his own life so that Clorinde and the damaged Néréide could escape; Néréide was found at Tamatave five days later and surrendered.
Why it is remembered It was the last action of the Mauritius campaign and confirmed British command of the seas east of the Cape for the rest of the war. Thomas Whitcombe illustrated the night action in 1820.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Peninsular War
Siege of Tarragona (1811) Landing or siege
5 May to 29 June 1811 · Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
Fought between France against Spain and Britain
Commanders Louis Gabriel Suchet (France); Juan Senen de Contreras (Spain); Edward Codrington (Britain)
Forces 18,000 French troops against 18,000 Spanish troops supported by a British naval squadron
Losses France: 4,300. Spain: 18,000, nearly all the defenders killed or captured.
Result French victory
Suchet's Army of Aragon besieged the Spanish garrison of the port of Tarragona. Codrington's British squadron fired on the French siege works and brought large numbers of reinforcements into the city by sea. Suchet's troops nevertheless stormed the defences and killed or captured almost all the defenders.
Why it is remembered The capture is shown in an 1836 painting by Jean-Charles-Joseph Rémond.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Jean-Charles-Joseph Rémond, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Maritime fur trade
Battle of Woody Point Other action
Also known as Destruction of the Tonquin
15 to 16 June 1811 · Clayoquot Sound, off Woody Point, Vancouver Island, Canada
Fought between Tla-o-qui-aht (Nuu-chah-nulth) against the Pacific Fur Company
Commanders Jonathan Thorn (Pacific Fur Company, killed)
Forces 1 American barque with 23 men and 10 cannon against Tla-o-qui-aht in 2 war canoes
Ships Tonquin
Losses Pacific Fur Company: 29 killed, the ship destroyed. Tla-o-qui-aht: about 200 killed or wounded.
Result Ship destroyed
The Tonquin, a merchant ship of the Astor Expedition, came to Clayoquot Sound to trade for furs. After an argument during the bartering, the Tla-o-qui-aht boarded and captured the ship and killed most of the crew. One remaining sailor then blew her up by firing the powder magazine.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Edmund Fanning, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars
Action of 22 May 1812 Single-ship action
22 May 1812 · Off Groix, near Lorient, Brittany
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Henry Hotham, John Weeks (Britain); Jean-Baptiste-Henri Féretier, Nicolas Morice (France)
Forces 1 British 74-gun ship of the line and 1 brig against 2 French frigates and 1 brig
Ships HMS Northumberland, Ariane, Andromaque, Mameluck
Losses Britain: 33 killed and wounded. France: killed and wounded unknown, Ariane and Andromaque destroyed.
Result British victory
Returning from a raiding cruise in the Atlantic, the frigates Ariane and Andromaque and the brig Mameluck tried to slip into Lorient past HMS Northumberland. After an exchange of fire that damaged every ship, the frigates tried to lose her through a shallow pass and ran aground. Northumberland repaired her damage, came back and set Andromaque ablaze, and Ariane's crew burnt her and escaped in Mameluck.
Why it is remembered Féretier and Morice were found guilty of negligence and barred from command for three years. Thomas Whitcombe painted the destruction of the frigates in 1816.
Sources differ One account places the action off Groix; another account gives off Penmarch.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Whitcombe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Argentine War of Independence
Combat of the Paraná River (1812) Blockade and raiding
Also known as Combate del río Paraná
4 August 1812 · Near La Bajada (present-day Paraná), Entre Ríos, Argentina
Fought between United Provinces of the Río de la Plata against Spanish royalist privateers from Montevideo
Forces An embarked detachment of the Regimiento de Patricios against royalist privateers
Result Victory for the United Provinces; captured Paraguayan vessels recovered
Royalist privateers from Montevideo who had seized Paraguayan vessels were attacked near La Bajada by a detachment of the Regimiento de Patricios embarked in boats. The patriot force recovered the captured Paraguayan vessels.
Why it is remembered It was one of the defensive actions of the riverside towns of the Argentine Litoral against royalist privateers.
Sources Wikipedia (ES)
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
First Battle of Sacket's Harbor Raid
Also known as First Battle of Sackett's Harbor
19 July 1812 · Sackets Harbor, New York, Lake Ontario
Fought between Britain against the United States
Commanders Hugh Earl (Britain); Melancthon Woolsey (United States)
Forces 2 British sloops of war, 1 brig and 2 schooners against a shore battery, regular troops, artillery, 3,000 militia and 1 brig
Losses Britain: 8 killed, 1 sloop of war badly damaged, unknown damage to other ships. United States: none.
Result American victory
A British squadron on Lake Ontario attacked the village of Sackets Harbor and its shipbuilding yard. The American defenders, with a shore battery and a brig, drove the squadron off.
Why it is remembered It was the first engagement between American and British forces in the war. The yard it protected built 12 warships during the conflict.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Irwin John David Bevan, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Capture of HMS Caledonia and HMS Detroit Raid
9 October 1812 · Near Fort Erie, Upper Canada (Ontario), Niagara River
Fought between United States against Britain
Commanders Jesse D. Elliott (United States); Frédérick Rolette (Britain)
Forces 100 American sailors and soldiers against 66 men in 2 brigs
Ships Caledonia, Detroit
Losses United States: 6 killed, 9 wounded. Britain: 2 killed, 5 wounded, 64 captured, 1 brig captured, 1 brig destroyed.
Result American victory
One hundred American sailors and soldiers crossed the Niagara River at night to two British brigs anchored near Fort Erie. They stormed the decks and took both vessels and their cargo. One brig was kept and the other destroyed.
Why it is remembered A successful boarding raid early in the war on the lakes frontier.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown engraver (The Port Folio, December 1814), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Capture of HMS Frolic Single-ship action
Also known as USS Wasp vs HMS Frolic
18 October 1812 · Atlantic Ocean
Fought between United States against Britain
Commanders Jacob Jones (United States); Thomas Whinyates (Britain, wounded)
Forces 1 American 18-gun sloop with 135 men against 1 British 18-gun brig-sloop with 110 men
Ships USS Wasp, HMS Frolic
Losses United States: 3 killed, 8 wounded, Wasp damaged. Britain: 30 killed, over 60 wounded, Frolic severely damaged and captured.
Result American victory, though both ships were then taken by a British ship of the line
The sloop USS Wasp fought and captured the brig-sloop HMS Frolic in the Atlantic. Shortly afterwards a British ship of the line came upon the scene and captured both ships.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Drawing and engraving by F. Kearny, based on sketch by Lieutenant Claxton., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Colombian War of Independence
Battle of Iscuandé Fleet battle
28 to 29 January 1812 · Iscuandé river, Popayán Province, New Granada (now Nariño Department, Colombia)
Fought between Confederated Cities of the Cauca Valley against Spain
Commanders José Ignacio Rodríguez (Patriots); Miguel Tacón y Rosique (Spain)
Forces Some small boats and 190 troops against 1 brigantine, 1 gunboat, several smaller vessels and 200 troops
Losses Patriots: 12 killed, 15 wounded. Spain: 80 killed, wounded or captured.
Result Patriot victory
Patriot forces in small boats fought a Spanish force with a brigantine, a gunboat and smaller craft on the Iscuandé river over two days. The patriots won.
Why it is remembered It was the first naval engagement of the Colombian War of Independence and led to the freeing of the Colombian Pacific coast from Spanish control. A bicentennial plaque in Santiago de Cali commemorates it.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Remux, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Battle of Kingston Harbour Fleet battle
10 November 1812 · Kingston Harbour, Kingston, Upper Canada, Lake Ontario
Fought between United States against Britain and Upper Canada
Commanders Isaac Chauncey (United States); Hugh Earle and John Vincent (Britain)
Forces American: USS Oneida and the schooners Pert, Growler, Julia, Conquest, Hamilton and Governor Tompkins, over 500 men. British: HMS Royal George with regulars, Royal Newfoundland Fencibles and Canadian militia, over 1,000 men.
Ships USS Oneida, USS Pert, USS Growler, USS Julia, USS Conquest, USS Hamilton, USS Governor Tompkins, HMS Royal George
Losses American: 2 killed, at least 7 wounded. British: 1 killed, at least 8 wounded.
Result Inconclusive
Chauncey's American squadron on Lake Ontario attacked British naval forces in Kingston harbour, where Oneida engaged Royal George. British ships, shore batteries and Canadian militia from Kingston defended the harbour.
Why it is remembered It was the only time the British stronghold at Kingston was attacked during the war, and the only time shots were ever fired from Fort Henry.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Battle of La Guaira (1812) Blockade and raiding
11 December 1812 · Off La Guaira, Venezuela
Fought between United States against Britain
Commanders Charles W. Wooster (United States); Captain Alexander (Britain, killed)
Forces 1 American privateer schooner against 1 British letter of marque brig
Ships Saratoga, Rachel
Losses United States: 2 wounded, schooner damaged. Britain: 3 killed, 1 wounded, 31 captured, brig captured.
Result American victory
The American privateer Saratoga fought and captured the British letter of marque brig Rachel at the Spanish port of La Guaira.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Adam Weingartner, New York, working in 1849 to 1863, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Gunboat War
Battle of Lyngør Single-ship action
6 July 1812 · Off Lyngør, Skagerrak coast of Norway
Fought between Britain against Denmark-Norway
Commanders James Stewart (Britain); Hans Peter Holm (Denmark-Norway, wounded)
Forces 1 British ship of the line and 3 brig-sloops against 1 Dano-Norwegian frigate and 3 brigs
Ships Najaden
Losses Britain: 9 killed, 26 wounded, 2 missing. Denmark-Norway: 133 killed, 88 wounded, Najaden destroyed.
Result British victory
A British squadron of one ship of the line and three brig-sloops found the frigate Najaden sheltering off Lyngør and destroyed her in a fierce engagement.
Why it is remembered Najaden was the last major warship of Denmark-Norway.
Sources differ One account gives Dano-Norwegian wounded as 87; another account gives 88.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Adriatic campaign of 1807 to 1814)
Battle of Pirano Single-ship action
Also known as Battle of Grado
22 February 1812 · Off Pirano and Grado, northern Adriatic
Fought between Britain against France and Italy
Commanders John Talbot (Britain); Jean-Baptiste Barré (France)
Forces 1 British ship of the line and 1 brig-sloop against 1 French ship of the line, 3 brigs and 2 gunboats
Ships HMS Victorious, Rivoli
Losses Britain: 26 killed, 99 wounded. France and Italy: 400 killed or wounded, Rivoli captured, 1 brig destroyed.
Result British victory
The new ship of the line Rivoli, just completed at Venice, was meant to restore French strength in the Adriatic. HMS Victorious blockaded Venice, and when Rivoli slipped out under cover of fog on her maiden voyage Talbot chased her and forced her to surrender after a five hour fight in which more than half her crew were killed or wounded.
Why it is remembered It ended French hopes of challenging British control of the Adriatic. Thomas Luny painted the action.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Luny, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Gunboat War (Napoleonic Wars)
Battle of Tromsø Raid
Also known as Battle of Pølsehavna
2 August 1812 · Off Tromsø, northern Norway
Fought between Britain against Denmark and Norway
Commanders Lord George Stuart (Britain); Hans Carl Bodenhoff (Denmark and Norway)
Forces The 38-gun frigate HMS Horatio and a cutting out party of 80 men against the 4-gun cutter No. 97 and the 6-gun schooner No. 114
Ships HMS Horatio, cutter No. 97, schooner No. 114
Losses Britain: 9 killed, 16 wounded. Denmark and Norway: 5 to 10 killed, 13 wounded, cutter and schooner captured.
Result British victory
The cutter No. 97 fired on HMS Horatio and fled to Tromsø once she recognised the frigate. The next day Stuart sent 80 men in boats to cut out No. 97 and the schooner No. 114 under Bodenhoff. Both were taken, with an American prize in the harbour, but British losses were heavy and Stuart returned to England.
Why it is remembered It was the last British engagement in Norwegian waters in the Gunboat War and helped lead the Admiralty to forbid risky attacks on foreign coasts. Bodenhoff became known as the lion of Tromsø.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Andreas Bloch, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere Single-ship action
19 August 1812 · About 400 miles south east of Halifax, Nova Scotia
Fought between United States against Britain
Commanders Isaac Hull (United States); James Richard Dacres (Britain)
Forces 1 American 44-gun frigate mounting 56 guns with 480 men against 1 British 38-gun frigate mounting 44 guns with 272 men
Ships USS Constitution, HMS Guerriere
Losses United States: 7 killed, 7 wounded. Britain: 15 killed, 78 wounded, 257 captured, Guerriere destroyed.
Result American victory
HMS Guerriere, sailing to Halifax for a refit, met USS Constitution a month after the war's first engagement. In an exchange of broadsides Guerriere's masts were brought down and she was left sinking. Constitution's crew took off the British sailors, set Guerriere on fire and returned to Boston.
Why it is remembered The victory was an important boost to American morale. During the battle a British shot is said to have bounced off Constitution's side, prompting a sailor to shout that her sides were made of iron. Thomas Birch painted the engagement.
Sources differ One account gives Guerriere's broadside as 526 lb; another account's comparison table gives 528 lb.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Birch, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
USS Essex vs HMS Alert Single-ship action
13 August 1812 · Atlantic Ocean
Fought between United States against Britain
Commanders David Porter (United States); T. L. P. Laugharne (Britain)
Forces The frigate USS Essex against the 20-gun sloop HMS Alert
Ships USS Essex, HMS Alert
Losses United States: none. Britain: Alert and her cargo captured.
Result American victory
Porter kept his gunports closed so that Laugharne took Essex for a merchantman and brought Alert within pistol shot. Essex then ran out her carronades and fired a single broadside. The fight lasted about eight minutes before Alert surrendered.
Why it is remembered Alert was the first American capture of the war. Porter allowed Laugharne to take her to Newfoundland to land his crew before she was handed over at New York, and she stayed in United States service until 1829.
Sources differ One account calls Essex a 32-gun frigate; another account calls her a 36-gun frigate.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Murat Halstead, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
USS United States vs HMS Macedonian Single-ship action
Also known as Capture of HMS Macedonian
25 October 1812 · Atlantic Ocean, near Madeira
Fought between United States against Britain
Commanders Stephen Decatur (United States); John Surman Carden (Britain)
Forces The 44-gun heavy frigate USS United States with 428 sailors and marines against the 38-gun frigate HMS Macedonian with 301
Ships USS United States, HMS Macedonian
Losses United States: 7 killed, 5 wounded. Britain: 43 killed, 71 wounded, Macedonian captured.
Result American victory
The heavy frigate United States under Decatur met the frigate Macedonian near Madeira. After a long and bloody action Carden surrendered, and the Americans brought Macedonian back to the United States.
Why it is remembered Macedonian was the first British warship ever brought into an American harbour. Thomas Birch painted the engagement in 1813.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Birch, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (War of the Sixth Coalition)
Action of 5 November 1813 Fleet battle
5 November 1813 · Off Toulon, France
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Edward Pellew (Britain); Julien Cosmao-Kerjulien, under Maxime Julien Émeriau de Beauverger (France)
Forces 5 British ships of the line and 4 frigates against 13 French ships of the line and 1 brig
Losses Britain: 1 killed, 14 wounded. France: 17 wounded.
Result Inconclusive
A French fleet left Toulon for exercises while the British blockading force was away. Returning when the wind changed, its rear was attacked by the British inshore squadron, later joined by ships from the main fleet. After an exchange of fire the French reached Toulon.
Why it is remembered A brief clash during the long British blockade of Toulon, painted in 1830.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Luny, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Adriatic campaign)
Siege of Cattaro Landing or siege
14 October 1813 to 3 January 1814 · Cattaro (now Kotor, Montenegro), Illyrian Provinces
Fought between Britain, Montenegro and Sicily against France
Commanders William Hoste, Petar I Petrović-Njegoš (Britain and Montenegro); Jean-Joseph Gauthier (France)
Forces 800 men, 1 frigate, 1 brig and 3 gunboats against a garrison of 600
Losses Britain and allies: 20 killed and wounded. France: 600 captured.
Result Anglo-Montenegrin victory
A Royal Navy detachment under Captain William Hoste and Montenegrin forces besieged the French garrison of the mountain fortress of Cattaro. The French surrendered on 3 January 1814.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: donchili, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Action off Charles Island Blockade and raiding
14 July 1813 · Off Banks' Bay, Charles Island, Galapagos Islands
Fought between United States against Britain
Commanders David Porter (United States); William Stavers (Britain)
Forces 1 American frigate and 2 sloops of war against 3 armed British whaling brigs
Losses United States: none. Britain: 89 men captured (48 paroled after the battle), 3 brigs captured.
Result American victory
An American squadron of three vessels under David Porter attacked three British armed whalers off Charles Island and captured them.
Why it is remembered One of the few actions of the war in the Pacific. It involved Marine Lieutenant John M. Gamble, the first United States Marine to command an American warship.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Joseph Howard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Battle of Craney Island Landing or siege
22 June 1813 · Craney Island, near Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia
Fought between Britain against the United States
Commanders George Cockburn, John Borlase Warren (Britain); Robert B. Taylor (United States)
Forces British: 2,500 infantry and marines and a company of French Royalists. American: 596 infantry, marines and sailors with 91 guns.
Losses British: 3 killed, 16 wounded, 62 missing. American: none.
Result American victory
British forces under Cockburn and Warren attempted an amphibious landing on Craney Island and were repulsed by the American defenders under Robert B. Taylor.
Why it is remembered The defence kept Norfolk and Portsmouth, two major hubs of American commerce, from British attack.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Benson Lossing, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Argentine War of Independence
Battle of El Bellaco stream Raid
Also known as Combate de arroyo El Bellaco
14 January 1813 · Mouth of the El Bellaco stream on the Uruguay River, near Gualeguaychú, Entre Ríos, Argentina
Fought between United Provinces of the Río de la Plata (local militia) against Spanish royalists from Montevideo
Commanders José Ignacio González, Gregorio Samaniego, José Santos Lima (Patriots); royalist commander not named
Forces About 30 militia, later joined by Samaniego's men and 25 militia from Gualeguay, against armed royalist sailing vessels
Ships Nuestra Señora del Rosario
Losses Royalists: 4 killed, 3 wounded, 21 prisoners, 2 missing, 3 vessels captured. Patriots: none.
Result Patriot victory
Royalist armed vessels from Montevideo were raiding the river settlements, and two anchored in the stream to load charcoal. Militia from Gualeguaychú and Gualeguay gathered and made a surprise attack, boarding three armed sailing vessels including the schooner Nuestra Señora del Rosario.
Why it is remembered One of the local militia actions that defended the river towns of Entre Ríos. A captured flag was placed as a trophy in the church of San Antonio in Gualeguay.
Sources differ One account lists 2 royalists missing; another account says two men jumped into the river and escaped.
Sources Wikipedia (ES)
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Raid on Havre de Grace Landing or siege
3 May 1813 · Havre de Grace, Maryland, at the mouth of the Susquehanna River
Fought between Britain against the United States
Commanders George Cockburn, John Lawrence, George Augustus Westphal (Britain); John O'Neill (United States)
Forces 150 Royal Marines, Royal Artillery and seamen from a Royal Navy squadron against fewer than 40 Maryland militiamen
Losses Britain: 1 wounded. United States: 1 killed.
Result British victory
A Royal Navy squadron under Rear Admiral Cockburn attacked Havre de Grace from the water. The landing party routed the defenders, sacked and burnt several buildings and withdrew.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Capture of HMS Boxer Single-ship action
Also known as Enterprise and Boxer
5 September 1813 · Off Pemaquid Point, near Bristol, Maine
Fought between United States against Britain
Commanders William Burrows (United States); Samuel Blyth (Britain)
Forces The brig USS Enterprise against the gun-brig HMS Boxer
Ships USS Enterprise, HMS Boxer
Losses United States: Enterprise damaged; Burrows killed. Britain: Boxer captured; Blyth killed.
Result American victory
The American brig Enterprise, built as a schooner in Maryland in 1799 and rebuilt as a brig, met the British gun-brig Boxer off the coast of Maine. Enterprise defeated and captured her, and both commanders were killed.
Why it is remembered Boxer was auctioned for $9,775 for her captors and became a local merchantman. Enterprise was wrecked in the West Indies in 1823, but her name passed to later United States Navy ships.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Irwin John David Bevan, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Capture of HMS Dominica Single-ship action
5 August 1813 · Off Bermuda, Atlantic Ocean
Fought between United States (privateer) against Britain
Commanders Dominique Diron (privateer Decatur); George Wilmot Barette (Britain)
Forces The American privateer schooner Decatur against the Royal Navy schooner HMS Dominica, which was escorting a merchant ship
Ships Decatur, HMS Dominica
Losses Decatur: 5 killed, 15 wounded, ship damaged. Dominica: 18 killed (Barette among them), 70 captured including 42 wounded, ship captured.
Result American victory
The privateer Decatur engaged the schooner Dominica while she was escorting a merchant ship off Bermuda. After a long and hard fight Dominica was captured.
Why it is remembered A notable single-ship action of the war, in which a privateer took a Royal Navy warship.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Adam Weingartner (New York), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Action off James Island Blockade and raiding
28 May 1813 · Off James Island, Galapagos Islands
Fought between United States against Britain
Commanders John Downes (United States)
Forces 1 American warship against 3 British whaling brigs
Losses United States: none. Britain: 2 killed, 6 wounded, 75 captured (freed after the battle), 3 brigs captured.
Result American victory
An American warship captured three British whalers off James Island. Only one of the whalers resisted, giving a brief single-ship action.
Why it is remembered One of the few actions of the war fought in the Pacific. The British later recovered all three whalers.
Sources differ One account calls the American ship a frigate; another account calls her a sloop.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: obv (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Battle of Lake Erie Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Put-in-Bay
10 September 1813 · Lake Erie, near Put-in-Bay, Ohio
Fought between United States against Britain
Commanders Oliver Hazard Perry, Jesse Elliott (United States); Robert Heriot Barclay, Robert Finnis (Britain)
Forces 9 American vessels (3 brigs, 5 schooners, 1 sloop) against 6 British vessels (3 sloops, 1 brig, 2 schooners)
Ships Lawrence, Niagara, Caledonia, Scorpion, Ariel, Somers, Porcupine, Tigress, Trippe, Detroit, Queen Charlotte, General Hunter, Lady Prevost, Little Belt, Chippeway
Losses United States: 27 killed, 96 wounded. Britain: 41 killed, 93 wounded, 306 captured, all 6 vessels captured; Finnis killed.
Result American victory
Perry's flagship Lawrence was reduced to a wreck and struck her colours after he had been rowed half a mile under fire to the brig Niagara. From Niagara he renewed the action, and all six British vessels were captured. Perry reported to General Harrison: “We have met the enemy and they are ours.”
Why it is remembered It gave the Americans control of the lake for the rest of the war, allowing them to retake Detroit and win the Battle of the Thames. Perry's “Don't Give Up the Ship” flag became an icon; the battle is marked by Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial at Put-in-Bay and a monument at Presque Isle, and a reconstructed Niagara is at Erie.
Sources differ Perry's message of victory described the British force inaccurately compared with the actual British order of battle.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: William Henry Powell, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812 (Chesapeake campaign)
Ocracoke raid Landing or siege
Also known as Attack on the Port of Ocracoke
11 to 16 July 1813 · Portsmouth and Ocracoke Island, North Carolina
Fought between Britain against the United States
Commanders George Cockburn (Britain)
Forces Royal Navy force under Rear-Admiral Cockburn
Result British victory
A Royal Navy force under Rear-Admiral George Cockburn made an amphibious attack on Ocracoke and Portsmouth, North Carolina, in support of the blockade of Chesapeake Bay. The raid succeeded.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: John James Halls, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Argentine War of Independence
Paranacito combat Raid
Also known as Combate del Paranacito (1813)
8 February 1813 · Paranacito river, near its mouth on the Uruguay River, near Villa Paranacito, Entre Ríos, Argentina
Fought between United Provinces of the Río de la Plata (local militia) against Spanish royalists from Montevideo
Commanders Gregorio Samaniego (Patriots); Manuel Moreno, master of the royalist sloop
Forces 20 militiamen and 2 sergeants against the sloop Nuestra Señora del Carmen, armed with a 6-pounder, a swivel gun and a few muskets
Ships Nuestra Señora del Carmen
Losses Royalists: 3 killed, 2 wounded, the rest of the crew captured, sloop captured. Patriot losses not stated.
Result Patriot victory
Royalist armed vessels from Montevideo were raiding the river settlements while most patriot forces were tied down elsewhere. On orders from José Gutiérrez, Captain Samaniego led militia from Gualeguaychú against the royalist sloop Nuestra Señora del Carmen and captured her.
Why it is remembered One of the militia actions that defended the river towns of Entre Ríos against royalist raids.
Sources Wikipedia (ES)
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Battle of Rappahannock River Raid
3 April 1813 · Rappahannock River, Virginia
Fought between Britain against the United States
Commanders James Polkinghorne (Britain); William Stafford (United States)
Forces 17 British armed boats with several hundred men against 4 American privateer schooners
Losses Britain: 2 killed, 11 wounded, 2 armed boats sunk. United States: 6 killed, 10 wounded, about 100 captured, 4 schooners captured.
Result British victory
A Royal Navy force blockading the Rappahannock sent several hundred men in boats against four American privateers. The British took all four schooners.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Irwin John David Bevan, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Mexican War of Independence
Battle of Salvatierra Other action
16 April 1813 (Good Friday) · Salvatierra, Guanajuato, Mexico, on the Lerma River
Fought between Mexico against Spain
The main account describes a naval battle at Salvatierra, a town on the banks of the Lerma River. It gives no further detail of forces or outcome.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Pierre Jean, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Second Battle of Sacket's Harbor Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Sacket's Harbor
28 to 29 May 1813 · Sackets Harbor, New York, Lake Ontario
Fought between Britain against the United States
Commanders George Prevost, James Lucas Yeo (Britain); Jacob Brown, Woolcott Chauncey (United States)
Forces About 870 British infantry and 2 field guns carried by 3 sloops of war, 2 brigs and 1 schooner, against about 500 regulars, 900 militia, 2 field guns and 2 schooners
Losses Britain: 30 killed, 200 wounded, 35 wounded prisoners, some warships damaged. United States: 69 killed, 84 wounded, 154 captured, 3 guns captured.
Result American victory
A British force crossed Lake Ontario to take Sackets Harbor, the main dockyard and base of the American squadron on the lake. American regulars, militia, marines and sailors drove the attack back. Naval stores were destroyed and American warships were damaged by their own side during the defence.
Why it is remembered The dockyard it saved built twelve warships during the war.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Benson John Lossing, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Battle of St. Michaels Landing or siege
Also known as First Battle of St. Michaels
10 August 1813 · St. Michaels, Eastern Shore of Maryland, Chesapeake Bay
Fought between Britain against the United States
Commanders George Cockburn, James Polkinghorne (Britain); Perry Benson (United States)
Forces 300 British sailors, marines and infantry in a boat flotilla against 500 Maryland militia with shore batteries
Losses Britain: 29 casualties and damage to at least one barge. United States: none.
Result American victory
British forces landed before dawn and disabled one battery, then returned to their boats and brought the flotilla closer to the town. Two more militia batteries opened fire, and a boom across the harbour mouth kept the boats back. After exchanging fire the British withdrew to Kent Island.
Why it is remembered The town was a target for its shipbuilding. Local legend says the people hung lanterns in the trees so that the British gunners overshot the town.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: TwoScarsUp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Chilean War of Independence
Capture of the frigate Nueva Limeña Blockade and raiding
Also known as Captura de la fragata Nueva Limeña
6 August 1813 · Off Coquimbo, Chile
Fought between The armed brig Potrillo against the merchant frigate Nueva Limeña
Forces The armed brig Potrillo, cruising as a privateer, against the merchant frigate Nueva Limeña
Ships Potrillo, Nueva Limeña
Losses Nueva Limeña captured.
Result Nueva Limeña captured by Potrillo
The merchant frigate Nueva Limeña had mutinied off the Peruvian coast and meant to join the Chilean revolutionaries. Off Coquimbo she was captured by the armed brig Potrillo, which was cruising as a privateer along the Chilean coast.
Sources Wikipedia (ES)
Image: DesconocidoUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Chilean War of Independence (Patria Vieja)
Capture of the Spanish frigate Thomas Blockade and raiding
Also known as Captura del transporte Thomas; Fragata Thomas
8 June 1813 · Chile
Fought between Chilean patriots against Spanish royalists
Commanders Nicolás García (Patriots)
Forces 2 gunboats and some feluccas against a transport frigate
Ships Thomas
Losses Royalists: the transport Thomas captured with her officers, stores and money.
Result Patriot victory
A patriot party under Lieutenant Nicolás García, with two gunboats and some feluccas, captured the transport frigate Thomas. She was carrying commanders, officers, munitions and money for the royalist Brigadier Antonio Pareja.
Sources Wikipedia (ES)
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Capture of USS Chesapeake Single-ship action
Also known as Battle of Boston Harbor; Shannon and Chesapeake
1 June 1813 · Off Boston, Massachusetts
Fought between Britain against the United States
Commanders Philip Broke (Britain); James Lawrence (United States)
Forces HMS Shannon, 38-gun frigate with 48 guns and 330 sailors and marines, against USS Chesapeake, 38-gun frigate with 49 guns and 379 sailors and marines
Ships HMS Shannon, USS Chesapeake
Losses Britain: 23 killed, 56 wounded. United States: 48 killed, 99 wounded, 232 captured, Chesapeake captured.
Result British victory
Chesapeake sailed out of Boston to meet Shannon, which had been cruising offshore for weeks. In ten to fifteen minutes Shannon's gunfire shot away Chesapeake's wheel and fore topsail halyard, swept her quarterdeck and mortally wounded Lawrence, and the British boarded and took her. Broke was badly wounded on the forecastle but survived. Chesapeake was taken to Halifax and commissioned into the Royal Navy.
Why it is remembered Lawrence's dying order, “Don't give up the ship”, became an enduring American naval motto, and the defeat ended a run of American frigate victories. Chesapeake was broken up in 1819 and her timbers were used in the Chesapeake Mill at Wickham.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Print made by: Louis Haghe After: John Christian Schetky After: Capt. R H King, RN Published by: Smith, Elder & Co, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Chilean War of Independence
Battle of Valparaíso (1813) Single-ship action
Also known as Combate naval de Valparaíso (1813)
2 May 1813 · Off Valparaíso, Chile
Fought between Chile against Spain
Forces The Chilean frigate Perla and brig Potrillo against the Spanish frigate Warren
Ships Perla, Potrillo, Warren
Losses Chile: Potrillo captured; Perla lost to mutiny.
Result Spanish victory
The first Chilean squadron, the frigate Perla and the brig Potrillo, sailed against the Spanish frigate Warren, which was blockading Valparaíso. Perla's crew rose in favour of the Spanish crown, and together with Warren they captured Potrillo.
Why it is remembered It was the first naval action in the Pacific during the Spanish American wars of independence, and it ended Chile's first attempt at a navy.
Sources Wikipedia (ES)
Image: Nowland Van Powell, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Adriatic campaign)
Siege of Zara (1813) Landing or siege
Also known as Siege of Zadar; Blockade of Zara
22 November to 5 December 1813 · Zara (now Zadar, Croatia), Illyrian Provinces
Fought between Britain and Austria against France and Napoleonic Italy
Commanders George Cadogan, Franjo Ksaver Tomašić (Britain and Austria); Claude Roize (France)
Forces 2,900 men and 2 frigates against 2,000 men and 12 gunboats
Ships HMS Havannah
Losses Britain and Austria: low. France: 600 captured, 238 cannon captured, 12 gunboats sunk (later salvaged).
Result Anglo-Austrian victory
An Anglo-Austrian force under George Cadogan in HMS Havannah blockaded and bombarded French-held Zara. The garrison surrendered within two weeks.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Ruben Holthuijsen, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Raid on Alexandria Raid
29 August to 2 September 1814 · Alexandria, Virginia, and the Potomac River
Fought between Britain against the United States
Commanders James Alexander Gordon (Britain); John Rodgers, James Monroe, Charles Simms (United States)
Forces 6 British warships: the frigates Seahorse and Euryalus, the bomb vessels Devastation, Aetna and Meteor and the rocket vessel Erebus
Ships HMS Seahorse, HMS Euryalus, HMS Devastation, HMS Aetna, HMS Meteor, HMS Erebus
Losses Britain: 7 killed, 38 wounded. United States: 11 killed, 19 wounded; 22 merchant ships and large stocks of goods taken.
Result British victory
Gordon's squadron came up the Potomac, and after a bombardment the garrison of Fort Washington blew up the fort and retreated. Alexandria surrendered its merchant ships and goods, and the British occupied the town for three days. On the way back downriver the squadron passed militia batteries and beat off two fireship attacks sent by Commodore Rodgers.
Why it is remembered The raid brought much plunder at little cost, but it delayed Gordon's return to the main fleet and gave the defenders of Baltimore time to prepare.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Argentine War of Independence (naval campaign of 1814)
Battle of Arroyo de la China Fleet battle
Also known as Combate de Arroyo de la China
28 March 1814 · Mouth of the Arroyo de la China, near Concepción del Uruguay, Entre Ríos, Argentina
Fought between Spanish royalists against the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata
Commanders Jacinto de Romarate (royalists); Tomás Nother (United Provinces)
Forces The royalist squadron against a light division of the United Provinces
Losses The United Provinces division suffered heavy losses.
Result Royalist victory
Romarate's royalist squadron fought a light patriot division under Captain Tomás Nother at the mouth of the stream. The royalists won and inflicted heavy losses.
Why it is remembered The royalist victory had little effect on the outcome of the 1814 campaign.
Sources Wikipedia (ES)
Image: óleo de Felipe Goulu (1786 to 1854), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812, Chesapeake campaign
Battle of Baltimore Landing or siege
Also known as Bombardment of Fort McHenry
12 to 14 September 1814 · Baltimore, Maryland, and Fort McHenry at the entrance to Baltimore Harbor
Fought between Britain against the United States
Commanders Robert Ross (killed), Alexander Cochrane, Arthur Brooke (Britain); Samuel Smith, John Stricker, George Armistead (United States)
Forces British: 5,000 infantry, marines and sailors ashore and 19 warships. American: 22,000 to 25,000 in total, including 1,000 infantry and militia with 20 guns at Fort McHenry.
Ships HMS Terror, HMS Volcano, HMS Meteor, HMS Devastation, HMS Aetna, HMS Erebus
Losses British: 39 to 46 killed, 252 to 296 wounded, 1 missing (at Fort McHenry, 1 wounded). American: 28 killed, 163 wounded, 50 captured (at Fort McHenry, 4 killed and 24 wounded).
Result American victory
British troops landed and fought the Americans at North Point, where General Ross was killed, while the fleet moved against the harbour. The Americans sank a line of merchant ships to block the harbour entrance. The bomb vessels and the rocket ship Erebus bombarded Fort McHenry for about 25 hours, firing roughly 1,500 to 1,800 rounds, but did little damage, and a night boat landing west of the fort gave only a short diversion. The fort held, and the British withdrew by land and sea.
Why it is remembered The defence ended the British Chesapeake campaign and saved the third largest city in the United States. Watching the bombardment, Francis Scott Key wrote the poem “Defence of Fort M'Henry”, which became the words of “The Star-Spangled Banner”, the national anthem.
Sources differ Casualty figures are given as ranges in the source: British 39 to 46 killed and 251 to 296 wounded.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Original uploader was Dr.frog at en.wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Argentine War of Independence
Battle of Buceo Fleet battle
14 to 17 May 1814 · Off Montevideo, Uruguay, Río de la Plata
Fought between United Provinces of the Río de la Plata against Spain
Commanders William Brown (United Provinces); Admiral Sierra (Spain)
Forces 7 United Provinces ships against 7 Spanish ships and 6 schooners
Ships Hercules, Zephyr, Nancy, Julietta, Belfast, Agreeable, Trinidad, Hyena, Mercurio, Neptuno, Mercedes, Palomo, San José, Cisne
Losses United Provinces: 4 killed, 1 ship lost. Spain: 5 ships burnt, 2 captured on 17 May, a further ship surrendered later, 500 prisoners.
Result United Provinces victory
Brown's fleet, led by his flagship Hercules, fought the Spanish squadron off Montevideo over four days. On 16 May Belfast captured Neptuno, Palomo and San José, and the Spanish lost most of their remaining ships by burning or capture.
Why it is remembered A decisive victory that let the patriots blockade Montevideo from the sea and brought about the city's surrender. Brown was promoted to admiral.
Sources differ The English account says two Spanish ships were captured on 17 May in one place and three captured on 16 May in another. The Spanish commander is called Sierra in another account and Sienna in a ship list.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Expedición_BO_1811 to 14.png: Rafunken derivative work: Cambalachero (talk), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Raid on Chesconessex Creek Landing or siege
25 June 1814 · Chesconessex Creek, Virginia, Chesapeake Bay
Fought between Britain against the United States
Commanders George Urmston, James Scott (Britain); John G. Joynes (United States)
Forces Several hundred Royal Marines, Colonial Marines and sailors landed from HMS Albion, Dragon and Endymion, against the Virginia militia garrison of one fort
Ships HMS Albion, HMS Dragon, HMS Endymion
Result British victory
A British landing force from three Royal Navy ships came ashore near the fort, guided by a man who had escaped slavery under the garrison commander. The fort fired one round from its six-pounder and the garrison fled. The British destroyed the fort and nearby guardhouses and returned to their ships with the cannon.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown artist, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Engagements on Lake Huron Raid
13 August to 6 September 1814 · Lake Huron, around Mackinac Island and the Nottawasaga River
Fought between Britain and the Ojibwa against the United States
Commanders Miller Worsley, Andrew Bulger (Britain); Arthur Sinclair, George Croghan, Daniel Turner (United States)
Ships Nancy
Losses Britain: 3 killed, 9 wounded, 1 schooner destroyed, 3 guns captured. United States: 6 killed, 6 wounded, 2 gunboats captured.
Result British and Indigenous victory
After failing to retake Fort Mackinac, the Americans tried to starve its garrison by destroying the supply schooner Nancy and blockading the island with two gunboats. In early September Royal Navy sailors and soldiers from Mackinac captured both gunboats by surprise.
Why it is remembered It left Britain in control of Lake Huron, and its Native American allies in control of the northwest, to the end of the war.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: OldYorkGuy, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Battle of Fayal Raid
26 to 27 September 1814 · Horta, Faial Island, Azores
Fought between United States (privateer) against Britain
Commanders Samuel Chester Reid (United States); Robert Lloyd, William Matterface (Britain)
Forces The privateer brig General Armstrong with 90 sailors against 1 British ship of the line, 1 frigate, 1 brig-sloop and 12 armed boats
Ships General Armstrong
Losses United States: 2 killed, 7 wounded, General Armstrong scuttled. Britain: 36 killed (Matterface among them), 93 wounded, 2 armed boats sunk, 2 captured.
Result General Armstrong scuttled after beating off two boat attacks; the outcome is treated as disputed
A Royal Navy squadron bound for Jamaica and Louisiana attacked the privateer General Armstrong at anchor in Horta. The Americans repulsed two attacks by armed boats, then scuttled their ship the next morning to prevent capture. The island's governor and the American consul prevented a British landing.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: N. Currier (Firm), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Battle of Fort Oswego (1814) Landing or siege
6 May 1814 · Fort Ontario and Oswego, New York, Lake Ontario
Fought between Britain against the United States
Commanders James Lucas Yeo, Karl Viktor Fischer, William Mulcaster (Britain); George Mitchell (United States)
Forces 550 soldiers, 400 marines, 200 sailors and 8 warships against 242 regulars, 25 United States Navy men and 200 militia
Losses Britain: 17 to 18 killed, 63 to 69 wounded. United States: 6 to 21 killed, 38 wounded, 25 to 60 captured.
Result British victory
A British force carried by eight warships raided Fort Ontario and the village of Oswego. The raid was only partly successful.
Sources differ Casualty figures are given as ranges in the source.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Robert Havell senior, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Battle of Hampden Landing or siege
3 September 1814 · Hampden, Maine, on the Penobscot River
Fought between Britain against the United States
Commanders Robert Barrie, John Coape Sherbrooke (Britain); Charles Morris (United States)
Forces HMS Dragon, Sylph and Peruvian with the transport Harmony and a prize tender, carrying about 750 men, against the frigate USS Adams and about 725 men
Ships HMS Dragon, HMS Sylph, HMS Peruvian, USS Adams
Losses Britain: 2 killed, 8 wounded, 1 missing. United States: 12 to 40 killed, wounded or missing, 70 captured, USS Adams destroyed by her own crew.
Result British victory
Barrie's force came up the Penobscot and landed three miles below Hampden, where USS Adams lay under repair. The American militia broke, and Morris spiked his guns and blew up his ship before withdrawing his crew overland. The British went on to Bangor, burning 14 merchant ships and taking others as prizes.
Why it is remembered It was part of the campaign to make eastern Maine the colony of New Ireland; revenue from the occupation funded a military library in Halifax and Dalhousie College.
Sources differ One account gives 70 Americans captured; another account gives 84 prisoners.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Irwin John David Bevan, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Capture of HMS Epervier Single-ship action
29 April 1814 · Off Cape Canaveral, Florida
Fought between United States against Britain
Commanders Lewis Warrington (United States); Richard Wales (Britain)
Forces The ship-rigged sloop of war USS Peacock against the Cruizer-class brig-sloop HMS Epervier
Ships USS Peacock, HMS Epervier
Losses United States: 2 wounded. Britain: 8 killed, 15 wounded, Epervier captured.
Result American victory
Peacock met Epervier, which was escorting a merchant convoy off Cape Canaveral. After a one-sided cannonade Epervier surrendered, but the convoy escaped.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Abel Bowen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of the Sixth Coalition (Napoleonic Wars)
Battle of Jobourg Single-ship action
26 to 27 March 1814 · Off Jobourg, Normandy, English Channel
Fought between Britain against France
Commanders Sir Michael Seymour, Edmund Palmer (Britain); Pierre-Henri Philibert, Abel Aubert du Petit-Thouars (France)
Forces 1 British ship of the line, 1 frigate and 1 brig-sloop against 2 French frigates
Ships HMS Hannibal, HMS Hebrus, HMS Sparrow, Étoile, Sultane
Losses Britain: 14 killed, 26 wounded. France: 40 killed, 73 wounded, 2 frigates captured.
Result British victory
Returning to Saint Malo after a raiding cruise, the frigates Étoile and Sultane were intercepted near the Île de Batz. The damaged Sultane was run down by Hannibal and surrendered without a fight. Hebrus caught Étoile off Jobourg early on 27 March, and after more than two hours of close fighting inshore Étoile struck.
Why it is remembered It was the last naval engagement of the War of the Sixth Coalition. Both French frigates were taken into the Royal Navy.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Nicholas Pocock, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812 (Chesapeake campaign)
Raid on Kinsale Raid
3 August 1814 · Mundy's Point and Kinsale, Yeocomico River, Virginia
Fought between Britain against the United States
Commanders George Cockburn and James Scott (Britain); William Henderson (United States)
Forces About 500 British marines and sailors, including 120 Colonial Marines, against Virginia militia of unknown number
Losses British: at least 1 killed. American: 8 killed
Result British victory
A British force of about 500 marines and sailors, 120 of them Colonial Marines, raided along the Yeocomico River in Virginia's Northern Neck in two phases, first landing at Mundy's Point and then advancing upriver to the village of Kinsale.
Why it is remembered It was one of Cockburn's raids in the Chesapeake in 1814, in which the Colonial Marines took part.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: John James Halls, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Battle of Lake Borgne Fleet battle
14 December 1814 · Lake Borgne, Louisiana
Fought between Britain against the United States
Commanders Nicholas Lockyer (Britain); Thomas ap Catesby Jones (United States)
Forces 42 British rowing boats against 5 American gunboats, 1 sloop and 1 schooner
Losses Britain: 17 killed, 77 wounded, 1 boat sunk. United States: 41 killed or wounded, 6 boats' crews captured, 5 gunboats and 1 sloop captured, 1 schooner scuttled.
Result British victory
A British force in 42 rowing boats attacked the small American gunboat flotilla on Lake Borgne and captured it.
Why it is remembered The victory let the British land their troops unopposed nine days later and begin the land offensive on New Orleans.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Lyde Hornbrook, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Argentine War of Independence (Second Banda Oriental campaign)
Battle of Martín García (1814) Landing or siege
Also known as Combate de Martín García
10 to 15 March 1814 · Martín García Island, Río de la Plata
Fought between United Provinces of the Río de la Plata against Spanish royalists
Commanders William Brown (United Provinces); Jacinto de Romarate (Spain)
Forces 1 frigate, 1 corvette, 1 brigantine, 2 schooners, 1 felucca and 1 sloop with 91 guns, 415 sailors and 177 troops, against 3 brigantines, 1 sloop, 3 gunboats, 1 landing craft and 4 minor vessels with 39 guns and 430 troops
Losses United Provinces: 1 vessel damaged, 23 killed, 35 wounded. Royalists: 1 minor vessel captured, 10 killed, 17 wounded, 47 prisoners.
Result United Provinces victory
In a first naval clash the leading patriot vessel ran aground and the royalists had the better of it. Brown's men then stormed the island, and Romarate's squadron withdrew.
Why it is remembered It split the royalist forces and gave the United Provinces control of the inland waterways, opening the way to the blockade and surrender of Montevideo after the Battle of Buceo.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Jose Murature, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Battle of Plattsburgh Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Lake Champlain
11 September 1814 (land operations 6 to 11 September) · Plattsburgh Bay, Lake Champlain, New York
Fought between United States against Britain
Commanders Thomas Macdonough, Robert Henley, Alexander Macomb (United States); George Downie, Daniel Pring, George Prevost (Britain)
Forces Afloat: 1 American corvette, 1 brig, 1 schooner, 1 sloop and 10 gunboats against 1 British frigate, 1 brig, 2 sloops and 12 gunboats. Ashore: 3,500 Americans against 11,000 British.
Ships Saratoga, Eagle, Ticonderoga, Preble, Confiance, Linnet, Chubb, Finch
Losses United States: 104 killed, 116 wounded. Britain: 168 killed, 220 wounded, 317 captured, 234 deserted; 1 frigate, 1 brig and 2 sloops captured; Downie killed.
Result American victory
Downie's squadron attacked Macdonough's anchored ships shortly after dawn. In a hard fight Downie was killed; Macdonough then cut his bow anchor and hauled on kedge anchors laid out earlier to spin Saratoga round and bring her fresh broadside to bear. Confiance and then Linnet surrendered, and Prevost abandoned the land attack and retreated to Canada.
Why it is remembered It ended the last British invasion of the northern states and denied Britain territorial claims at the Ghent peace talks. Macdonough became known as the Hero of Lake Champlain, and three United States Navy ships were named Lake Champlain.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Benjamin Tanner / Hugh Reinagle, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Napoleonic Wars (Adriatic campaign)
Siege of Ragusa (1814) Landing or siege
Also known as Siege of Dubrovnik
19 to 27 January 1814 · Ragusa (now Dubrovnik, Croatia), Illyrian Provinces
Fought between Britain, Austria and Ragusan insurgents against France
Commanders William Hoste, Todor Milutinović, Biagio Caboga (allies); Joseph de Montrichard (France)
Forces 400 men, 1 frigate and 1 brig against a garrison of 600
Losses Allies: 41 killed or wounded. France: 70 killed or wounded, 530 captured.
Result Anglo-Austrian victory
Ragusan insurgents, Austrian Croat troops and a Royal Navy force under Captain William Hoste besieged the French garrison of Ragusa. The French surrendered after eight days.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Bracodbk, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikipedia (en)
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Sinking of HMS Avon Single-ship action
1 September 1814 · English Channel
Fought between United States against Britain
Commanders Johnston Blakeley (United States); James Arbuthnot (Britain)
Forces The ship-rigged sloop of war USS Wasp against the Cruizer-class brig-sloop HMS Avon, with the brig-sloop Castilian nearby
Ships USS Wasp, HMS Avon, HMS Castilian
Losses United States: 3 wounded. Britain: 10 killed, 29 wounded, Avon sunk.
Result American victory
Wasp engaged Avon in the Channel and forced her to surrender. Other British brig-sloops came up and prepared to engage, so the Americans could not take possession. Avon sank shortly after the battle.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Carlton T. Chapman, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Sinking of HMS Reindeer Single-ship action
28 June 1814 · English Channel
Fought between United States against Britain
Commanders Johnston Blakeley (United States); William Manners (Britain)
Forces The ship-rigged sloop of war USS Wasp against the Cruizer-class brig-sloop HMS Reindeer
Ships USS Wasp, HMS Reindeer
Losses United States: 9 killed, 15 wounded. Britain: 25 killed, 42 wounded, Reindeer captured and burnt; Manners killed.
Result American victory
Wasp fought Reindeer until well over half of the brig's crew, including Commander Manners, had been killed or wounded and she struck her colours. Reindeer was too badly damaged to save, so the Americans burnt her.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Edwin Hayes, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Battle of Valparaíso (1814) Single-ship action
Also known as Capture of USS Essex
28 March 1814 · Off Valparaíso, Chile
Fought between Britain against the United States
Commanders James Hillyar (Britain); David Porter (United States)
Forces The frigate HMS Phoebe and sloop HMS Cherub against the frigate USS Essex and sloop USS Essex Junior
Ships USS Essex, USS Essex Junior, HMS Phoebe, HMS Cherub
Losses Britain: 5 killed, 10 wounded. United States: 58 killed, 60 wounded, 156 captured, both ships captured.
Result British victory
HMS Phoebe and HMS Cherub fought USS Essex and USS Essex Junior off Valparaíso. The British won and captured both American ships.
Why it is remembered The action is the subject of a painting of about 1819.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Second Barbary War
Battle off Cape Gata Single-ship action
17 June 1815 · Off Cape Gata, south east Spain
Fought between United States against the Regency of Algiers
Commanders Stephen Decatur Jr. (United States); Raïs Hamidou (Algiers)
Forces 3 American frigates, 2 sloops, 2 brigantines and 2 schooners against 1 Algerine frigate
Ships Meshuda
Losses United States: 10 killed, 30 wounded. Algiers: 30 killed, many wounded, 406 captured, frigate captured; Hamidou killed.
Result American victory
Decatur's squadron met the Algerine flagship, the frigate Meshuda, under Admiral Hamidou. After a sharp action the frigate was captured.
Why it is remembered It was the first battle of the Second Barbary War and a decisive American victory over the Algerine navy.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · Second Barbary War
Battle of Cape Palos (1815) Single-ship action
19 June 1815 · Off Cape Palos, Spain
Fought between United States against the Regency of Algiers
Commanders Stephen Decatur Jr. (United States)
Forces 1 American sloop, 1 brigantine and 2 schooners against 1 Algerine brig
Losses United States: none. Algiers: 23 killed, about 80 captured, brig captured, 1 boat sunk.
Result American victory
An American squadron under Commodore Decatur attacked and captured an Algerian brig off Cape Palos.
Why it is remembered It was the last battle of the Second Barbary War.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: unattributed, apparently from U.S. National Archives, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Capture of East India Company ship Nautilus Single-ship action
30 June 1815 · Off Java
Fought between United States against the East India Company
Commanders Lewis Warrington (United States); Charles Boyce (East India Company)
Forces The sloop of war USS Peacock against the East India Company brig Nautilus
Ships USS Peacock, Nautilus
Losses United States: none. East India Company: 7 killed, 6 wounded, brig captured and later released.
Result American victory
Warrington knew the war had ended, but attacked Nautilus when Boyce refused to strike his colours. Peacock's fire caused several casualties and forced a surrender. Warrington released the brig after Boyce produced documents about the treaty.
Why it is remembered It was the last military engagement of the War of 1812, fought six months after the Treaty of Ghent.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Taken from http://www.history.navy.mil/ac/exploration/wilkes/wilkes1.html, due to its age, and the fact that it's a prod, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Battle of Fort Peter Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Fort Point Peter
13 to 14 January 1815 · Fort Peter, St. Marys River, Camden County, Georgia
Fought between Britain against the United States
Commanders George Cockburn (Britain); Abraham A. Massias, Daniel Newnan (United States)
Forces 1,500 British troops supported by a squadron of 1 third rate, 1 fourth rate, 4 fifth rates, 2 bomb ketches and 2 schooners, against 160 men, 8 guns and 2 gunboats
Ships HMS Albion, HMS Dragon, HMS Regulus, Brune, HMS Severn, Hebrus, Rota, Primrose, HMS Terror, HMS Devastation, HMS Canso, HMS Whiting
Losses Britain: 3 killed, 5 wounded. United States: 1 killed, 4 wounded, 9 missing, 8 guns, 2 gunboats and 12 merchantmen captured.
Result British victory
A British force attacked Forts St. Tammany and Peter on the Georgia side of the St. Marys River and destroyed Fort Peter. The occupation of coastal Camden County let the British blockade American traffic on the Intracoastal Waterway.
Why it is remembered It came after the Treaty of Ghent was signed but before it was ratified, and formed part of the British occupation of St. Marys and Cumberland Island.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: William Beechey, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812 (New Orleans campaign)
Bombardment of Fort St. Philip (1815) Landing or siege
9 to 18 January 1815 · Fort St. Philip, Louisiana
Fought between Britain against the United States
Commanders Hugh Pigot (Britain); Walter H. Overton (United States)
Forces 1 British sloop of war, 1 brig of war, 1 schooner, 2 bomb vessels mounting four mortars and 2 bumboats, against a garrison of 406 men with 35 guns and 1 gunboat
Losses Britain: none. United States: 2 killed, 7 wounded.
Result Inconclusive
Two Royal Navy bomb vessels shelled the fort from beyond the range of its solid shot for ten days, while its only mortar lacked ammunition. Supply boats brought shells, and on 17 January the fort's mortar replied against the bomb vessels. The British then withdrew.
Why it is remembered A riverine action among the last hostilities of the War of 1812.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse This image or media file contains material based on a work of a National Park Servi, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Capture of HMS Cyane and HMS Levant Single-ship action
20 February 1815 · About 100 miles east of Madeira, Atlantic Ocean
Fought between United States against Britain
Commanders Charles Stewart (United States); Gordon Falcon, George Douglas (Britain)
Forces The frigate USS Constitution with 450 crew against two sixth rates, HMS Cyane with 175 men and HMS Levant with 135
Ships USS Constitution, HMS Cyane, HMS Levant
Losses United States: 6 killed, 9 wounded. Britain: 19 killed, 42 wounded, 249 prisoners, Cyane captured, Levant captured and later recaptured.
Result American victory
Constitution fought Cyane and Levant together. After exchanges of broadsides and musket fire both British ships surrendered. When a British squadron appeared at Porto Praya in the Cape Verde Islands, Levant failed to escape and was recaptured.
Why it is remembered The war had already ended with the ratification of the Treaty of Ghent a few days before, but neither side knew it.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Lithograph by James Queen after a painting by Thomas Birch, published circa the mid-19th Century by P.S. Duval, Philadel, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793 to 1815 · War of 1812
Capture of HMS Penguin Single-ship action
23 March 1815 · Off Tristan da Cunha, South Atlantic
Fought between United States against Britain
Commanders James Biddle (United States); James Dickenson (Britain)
Forces USS Hornet against the brig-sloop HMS Penguin, two ships of almost equal strength
Ships USS Hornet, HMS Penguin
Losses United States: 2 killed, 7 wounded. Britain: 1 killed (Dickenson), 28 wounded, 90 captured, Penguin captured and burnt.
Result American victory
Hornet's gunnery proved far better than Penguin's. After Dickenson was killed Penguin rammed Hornet in an attempt to board, but the ships separated and Penguin surrendered when her foremast fell. She was too badly damaged to save and was burnt.
Why it is remembered One of several actions fought after the Treaty of Ghent had ended the war.
Sources differ One account calls Hornet a brig; another account calls her a sloop of war.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Abel Bowen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons