The Glorious First of June, the first fleet action of the Revolutionary War, took place over 3 days in 1794 400 nautical miles (740 km) west of Ushant in the Atlantic Ocean.
The British fleet, under the command of Lord Howe with 25 ships of the line defeated a French fleet of 26 ships under the command of Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse which was protecting a vitally important grain convoy from the United States
Summary:
The two fleets first sighted each other on 28 May when a squadron of the fastest British ships cut off the rearmost French vessel Révolutionnaire which was engaged with HMS Audacious as darkness fell. They parted during the night and returned to their respective home ports.
Next day Howe's attempt to split the French fleet in half failed when the lead ship, HMS Caesar, failed to turn when ordered, although both fleets suffered damage in the inconclusive action that followed. Three French ships were sent back to port with damage, but the next day a detached squadron under Admral Nielly joined. The fleets did not engage the next two days because of thick fog. They met again 1 June 1794. Howe ordered each of his ships to turn individually towards the French line, intending to breach it at every point and rake the French ships at both bow and stern however many captains could not break through due to the good order of the French line. This meant that those ships which did break through met the combined fire of many ships and were badly damaged. HMS Defence was the first to break the French line. Within an hour the British and French lines were hopelessly confused, with three separate engagements being fought within sight of one another. Eventually 11 French ships under Villaret in Montagne broke away and formed a new line leaving badly damaged ships of both sides drifting between the two fleets.
After a further brief engagement the two fleets seperated and the French withdrew taking several dismasted ships with them. This led to subsequent condemnation of the British for not capturing more ships although they were badly damaged and the French would most probably have opposed the attempt. Most sources accept that French casualties in the campaign numbered approximately 7,000, including around 3,000 captured, but these figures are vague and frequently do not agree with each other on details. British casualties are easier to confirm but here too there are some discrepancies; overall British casualties are generally given as around 1,200. Whilst the British won the battle, tactically they lost as the grain convoy arrived safely.
Novels based around this battle.
Ships Present
British Fleet (1st June)
Caesar (80) Anthony Molloy
Bellerophon (74) Flag - Rear-Admiral Thomas Pasley, Cptn. - William Johnstone Hope Extensive damage to masts and rigging
Leviathan (74_ Lord Hugh Seymour
Russell (74) John Willett Payne
Royal Sovereign (100), Flag - Vice-Admiral Thomas Graves, Cptn. - Henry Nicholls Damage to masts and rigging
Marlborough (74) George Cranfield-Berkeley Totally dismasted
Defence (74) James Gambier Totally dismasted
I mpregnable (98) Flag - Rear-Admiral Benjamin Caldwell, Cptn. - George B. Westcott Damage to masts and rigging
Tremendous (74) James Pigott
Barfleur (98) Flag - Rear-Admiral George Bowyer, Cptn. - Cuthbert Collingwood
Invincible (74) Thomas Pakenham
Culloden(74) Isaac Schomberg
Gibraltar (80) Thomas Mackenzie
Queen Charlotte (100) Flag - Admiral Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe, Cptn. of the Fleet - Sir Roger Curtis, Cptn. - Sir Andrew Snape Douglas Extensive damage to masts and rigging
Brunswick (74) John Harvey (Mortally wounded), Lt. William Edward Cracraft (Acting) Lost mizenmast, Extensive damage to other masts and rigging
Valiant (74) Thomas Pringle
Orion (74) John Thomas Duckworth Minor damage to masts and rigging
Queen (98) Flag - Rear-Admiral Alan Gardner, Cptn. - John Hutt (Mortally wounded) Lost mainmast, Damage to other masts and rigging
Ramillies (74) Henry Harvey
Alfred (74) John Bazeley
Montagu (74) James Montagu (Killed in Action)
Royal George (100) Flag - Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Hood, Cptn. - William Domett
Majestic (74) Charles Cotton
Glory (98) John Elphinstone
Thunderer (74) Albemarle Bertie
French Fleet (1st June)
Trajan (74) Dumoutier
Éole(74)Bertrand Keranguin
America (74) Louis L'Héritier Captured
Téméraire (74) Morel
Terrible (110) Flag - Rear-Admiral François-Joseph Bouvet, Cptn. - Pierre-Jacques Longer Lost main and mizen masts
Impétueux (74) Douville (Killed in Action) Captured
Mucius (74) Larrégny Totally dismasted
Tourville (74)Langlois
Gasparin (74) Tardy
Convention (74) Joseph-Allary
Trente-et-un-Mai (74) Honoré Joseph Antoine Ganteaume Extensive damage to masts and rigging
Tyrannicide (74) Alain-joseph Dordelin Extensive damage to masts and rigging
Juste (80) Blavet Captured
Montagne (120) Flag - Rear-Admiral Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse, Flag Cptn. - Paul Basire (Killed in Action), Cptn. - Jean-François Vignot
Jacobin (80) Jean André Gassin
Achille (74) Guillaume-Jean-Nöel La Villegris Captured
Vengeur du Peuple (74) Jean François Renaudin Captured and sunk
Patriote(74) Lucadou
Northumberland (74) François-Pierre Etienne Captured
Entreprenant (74) LeFrancq
Jemmappes (74) Desmartis Totally dismasted
Neptune (74) Tiphane
Pelletier (74) Berrade
Républicain (110) Flag - Rear-Admiral Joseph-Marie Nielly, Cptn. - Pierre-Mandé Lebeau Totally dismasted
Sans Pareil (80) Jean-François Courand Captured
Scipion (80) Huguet Totally dismasted
British Fleet - Also Present
Latona (38) Edward Thornbrough
Phaeton (38) William Bentinck
Aquilon (36) Robert Stopford
Niger (36) Captain Arthur Kaye Legge
Southampton (36) Robert Forbes
Venus I36) William Brown
nPegasus (28) Robert Barlow
Kingfisher (18) Thomas Le Marchant Gosseyln
Ranger (16) Lt. Charles Cotgrave
Rattler (16) Lt. John Winne
Comet (Fireship 14) Cdr. William Bradley
Incendiary (Fireship 14) Cdr. John Cooke
Charon (Hospital Ship) George Countess
French Fleet - Also Present
Tamise (32) Jean-Marthe-Adrien L'Hermite
The French fleet was accompanied by approximately 16 frigates, corvettes, brigs and cutters.
Plan of the Battle
