These pages list the key dates in the history of the sailing navies of the world.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
01 June
1666
First day of The Four Days Battle, off the North Foreland between the English fleet of 56 ships, under George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle, and the Dutch fleet of 84 ships, under Lt.-Admiral Michiel de Ruyter.
1676
Danish-Dutch fleet of 25 ships-of-the-line, 10 frigates and some minor ships, under Dutch General Admiral Tromp and Admiral Niels Juel, defeats a Swedish force of 27 ships-of-the-line, 11 frigates and some minor ships, under Admiral Lorentz Creutz,.off Oland, Sweden
1677
The Danish Baltic Squadron of 10 ships-of-the-line and 3 frigates, under Admiral Niels Juel, defeated a Swedish squadron of 7 ships-of-the-line, 2 frigates and 2 armed cutters, under Admiral Sjöblad, off Moen
1794
Glorious First of June. British fleet under Lord Howe defeat French fleet under Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse.
1795
Adam Duncan promoted to full Admiral.
1797
HMS Astraea (32), Cptn. Richard Dacres, captures the Dutch privateer Stuiver (10) off the Scaw
1808
HMS Unite (38), Cptn. Patrick Capmbell, captured Nettuno and Teulie in the Adriatic.
1813
HMS Shannon (38), Cptn. Philip Bowes Vere Broke, captures USS Chesapeake (36) Cptn. James Lawrence, off Boston Harbor
1814
Start of 4 day British operation in the River Patuxent.
02 June
1653
First day of Battle of the Gabbard Bank, off the coast of Suffolk. English fleet of 100 ships under Generals at Sea George Monck and Richard Deane and Admirals John Lawson and William Penn beat of 98 Dutch ships under Lieutenant-Admiral Maarten Tromp and Vice-admiral Witte de With.
On second day the English were joined by Admiral Robert Blake, but Tromp decided to attack but was routed, the English chasing them until well in the evening.
1676
Battle of Palermo. A French force led by Abraham Duquesne attacked a Spanish force supported by a Dutch maritime expedition force. Largely because the Dutch and Spanish ships were at bay making repairs from an earlier a battle, the French fleet destroyed four Spanish and three Dutch ships with fireships.
1773
George III reviewed the English Fleet at Portsmouth.
1779
HMS Glasgow (20) burnt by accident in Montego Bay, Jamaica
1787
HMS Pelican (10) foundered
1805
HMS Diamond Rock capitulated.
Boats of HMS Loire (40), Cptn. Frederick Maitland, cut out privateer felucca Esperamza from Camarinas Bay. Another privateer was taken but abandoned and 3 merchant vessels were destroyed.
03 June
1665
Battle of Lowestoft. English fleet of 109 ships, under James Stuart, Duke of York, badly defeat Dutch fleet of 103 ships, under Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam (Killed in Action). The Dutch lost 17 ships and the English lost 1 ship.
1785
Order to sell last ship remaining in Continental Navy, frigate Alliance . No other US Navy ships were authorized until 1794.
04 June
1673
Engagement between the Anglo-French fleet under Prince Rupert and the Dutch under De Ruyter. Second Battle of Schooneveld. Anglo-French fleet of 86 ships, under Rupert of the Rhine, engaged Dutch fleet of 64 ships, under Michiel de Ruyter.
1800
HMS Thames (32), Cptn. Lukin, and HMS Cynthia (18) silenced the forts at Quiberon which were afterwards destroyed by a party of troops.
1805
Boats of HMS Loire (40), Cptn. Frederick Maitland, destroyed a battery and fort at Muros Bay, took the privateer Confiance and burnt privateer Belier .
1808
4 Danish gunboats, under Lt. Christian Wulff, defeats the British gun-brig HMS Tickler, Lieut. John W. Skinner (Killed in Action), off Taars.
1812
Boats of HMS Medusa (32), Cptn. Bouverie, cut out and destroyed Dorade (14) at Arcasson near Bourdeaux.
1824
The Danish Navy's first steamship, the paddle steamer Kiel, arrives at Copenhagen from England.
1849
The Danish corvette Valkyrien, Andreas Polder, and the paddle steamer Gejser, Lt. Cmdr Jørgen P. F. Wulff, of the North Sea Squadron engages 3 Schleswig-Holstein naval paddle steamers, under Rear Ad. Bromme off Heligoland.
05 June
1794
First officers of the U.S. Navy under the Constitution are appointed.
1807
Boats of HMS Pomone (38), Cptn. Robert Barrie, captured gun-brig and 14 sail south of the Ile d'Yeu.
06 June
1758
Howe attacks St. Malo.
1762
George Anson died
1800
HMS Impetueux (74), Cptn. Sir Edward Pellew, and consorts took two brigs, two sloops, two gun vessels and about 100 prisoners and destroyed the batteries ashore at Morbihan.
1806
A British prize schooner of HMS Port D'Espagne, Lt. James Pattison Stewart, captured Spanish privateer Mercedes
1827
HMS Cynthia Packet-Brig (6) wrecked off the Island of Barbados.
07 June
1692
Port Royal, Jamaica destroyed by Earthquake and subsequent tsunami.
1777
HMS Fox (28), Cptn. Patrick Fotheringham, was taken by American frigates Hancock (32), Cpt. John Manley, and Boston (30), Cptn. Hector McNeil, off Newfoundland Banks.
08 June
1794
HMS Crescent (36), Cptn. James Saumarez, HMS Druid (32), Cptn. Ellison, and HMS Eurydice (24), Cptn. Francis Cole, engaged French squadron off the West coast of Guernsey..
1795
HMS Kingfisher (18) engaged a French convoy.
1796
HMS Unicorn (32), Cptn. Thomas Williams, and HMS Santa Margarita (36), Cptn. Thomas Byam Martin, captured Tribune (44), Commodore Moulson, and Tamise (42) to the westward of the Scillies. A corvette Legere escaped.
First day of 4 day campaign by HMS Arethusa (38), Cptn. Thomas Wolley, with three frigates, two sloops and army units capturing island of St. Vincent.
1813
Boats of HMS Elizabeth (74), Cptn. Leveson Gower, and HMS Eagle (74), Cptn. Charles Rowley, defeated troops at Omago.
1830
Sloop-of-war Vincennes becomes first U.S. warship to circle the globe
1853
Commodore Matthew Perry arrives at Uraga, Japan to begin negotiations for a treaty with Japan
09 June
1772
HMS Gaspee schooner, Lt. William Dudingston, burned at Namquid Point, Narragansett Bay by American colonists from Providence, Rhode Island.
1795
HMS Mosquito captured a privateer.
1796
HMS Southampton (32), Cptn. James Macnamara, ccut out French corvette Utile (24) from Hyeres Bay
1799
Boats of HMS Success (32), Cptn. Shuldham Peard, cut out Belle Aurore.
1801
HMS Kangaroo (16), George Christopher Pulling, and HMS Speedy (14), Lord Thomas Cochrane, destroyed gunboats and took 3 brigs from under the battery of Oropeso
HMS Meleager (32), Cptn. Thomas Bladen Capel, wrecked on the Triangles, Gulf of Mexico.
1808
21 Danish gunboats and 12 mortar shallops, under Cmdr Johan C. Krieger, engages a British escorted convoy in the southern part of the Sound. HMS Turbulent (12) and 11 merchant ships are captured.
10 June
1673
Rene Duguay-Trouin born in St. Malo, France. French privateer and naval officer, he captured 300 merchantmen and 20 warships during his career.
1805
HMS Chiffonne (36), Cptn. Charles Adamand, HMS Falcon (14), Cptn. George Sanders, HMS Clinker (14), Lt. Nisbet Glen, and the Frances hired armed cutter, engaged French gunboats Foudre (10), Cptn. Jacques-Felix-Emmanuel Hemelin, Audacieuse (10), Lt. Dominique Roquebert, and 7 others protecting a convoy off the coast of France.
1809
HMS Amelia (38), Cptn. Frederick Paul rby, and HMS Statira captured French national vessels Mouche (16), Rejouie (8) and a schooner together with 2 luggers Legere and Notre Dame at Santander.
11 June
1800
Boats of Rear Ad. Sir John B. Warrens's squadron, HMS Renown (74) Cptn. Eyles, HMS Fisgard (44), Cptn. T. Byam Martin, HMS Defence (74), Cptn. Lord H. Paulet, and HMS Unicorn (32), Cptn. Wilkinson, cut out gunboat Nochette (2) two armed chasse-maree and eight other vessels at St. Croix within the Penmarks. Twenty other vessels were run on to the rocks.
1808
Boats of HMS Euryalus (36), Cptn. George Heneage Dundas, and HMS Cruizer (18), George Charles M'Kenzie, burnt two large troop transports and captured a gun-vessel (2) off the Naskon.
12 June
1652
English squadron under Sir George Ayscue overtook the Dutch outward bound East Indian fleet of forty merchantmen, and secured six prizes off the Lizard.
1667
HMS Royal Charles (80), not in commission, captured during dutch raid on Medway
1775
General Assembly of the Crown Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations authorize the charter of two naval vessels "to protect the trade of the colony."
Jeremiah O'Brien & crew of the sloop Unity capture HMS Margaretta schooner, Lt. James Moor (mortally wounded), in Machias Bay, Maine. Arguably the first naval battle of the American Revolution.
1813
Boats of HMS Bacchante (38), Cptn. William Hoste, captured 24 vessels at Abruzza.
13 June
1796
HMS Dryad (36), Cptn. Lord Amelius Beauclerk, captured Proserpine (42).
1805
Boats of HMS Cambrian (40), Cptn. John Poo Beresford, captured Spanish privateer schooner Maria (14) to the east of Bermuda.
1829
HMS Mermaid survey ship, Samuel Nol, lost on Franklands Reef off Australia.
14 June
1777
John Paul Jones takes command of Ranger
1789
William Bligh and loyal crew of HMS Bounty arrive at Timor, off the coast of Java.
1803
HMS Immortalite (42), Cptn. Edward William Campbell Owen, HMS Jalouse (18), Christopher Strachey, and HMS Cruizer (18), John Hancock, cut out Inabordable (4) and Commode (4) from Cap Blanc Nez.
1809
Boats of HMS Scout (18), William Raitt, stormed and captured the battery, spiked the guns and carried off 7 vessels at Cape Croisette, south of Marseilles.
Start of 5 day engagement in which HMS Latona (38), Cptn. Hugh Pigot, took Felicite (14)
1814
HMS Superb (74), Cptn. Charles Paget, and HMS Nimrod (18), Nathaniel Mitchell, attacked Wareham at the head of Buzzard's Bay, and destroyed American ships Fair Trader (18), Independent (14), Fancy, Elizabeth and Nancy,together with a valuable cotton mill belonging to Boston merchants.
15 June
1744
Commodore George Anson, HMS Centurion (60, returned to Spithead after circumnavigation voyage
1775
Cptn. Abraham Whipple, Commodore of the Rhode Island Navy, in sloop Katy, captures the armed sloop Diana, tender to HMS Rose.
1783
HMS Shrewsbury (74) scuttled off Jamaica.
1797
HMS Fortune (14) wrecked near Oporto
16 June
1798
Boats of HMS Aurora (28) Capt. Thomas Gordon Caulfield, destroyed two vessels.
1812
HMS Swallow (18), Cptn. Edward Reynolds Sibly, engaged Renard (16), Lt. Charles Baudin des Ardennes, and Goéland (14) Ens.Belin, near the island of Sainte-Marguerite.
1813
HMS Persian (18), Cdr. Charles Bertram, wrecked on the Silver Keys shoal just north of the island of Hispaniola
1897
HMS Foudroyant (80) driven on shore at Blackpool in a gale.
17 June
1755
British fleet under Admiral Boscawen took Alcide (64), Captain Hocquart, and Lys (64) off Newfoundland.
1775
Cuthbert Collingwood promoted to Lieutenant
1778
HMS Milford (28) took Licorne.
HMS Arethusa (32), Samuel Marshall, engages French frigate Belle Poule (32) in the Channel
1794
HMS Romney (50), William Paget, captured Sybille (44)
1813
Garrison defeated at island of Zupano, protecting Ragusa (Dubrovnik), by party from HMS Saracen (18), John Harper.
Boats of HMS Narcissus (32), Cptn. John Richard Lumley, took the American revenue schooner Surveyor in the York River in the Chesapeake.
1815
HMS Pilot (18) John Toup Nicholas, engaged French frigate Legere off Cape Corse.
1833
USS Delaware enters drydock at Gosport Navy Yard in Norfolk, VA, the first warship to enter a public drydock in the United States.
18 June
1778
HMS Foudroyant (80), Cptn. John Jervis, HMS Courageaux (74) and HMS Robust (74) captured French frigate Pallas (32)
1793
HMS Nymphe (36), Cptn. Edward Pellew, captured Cleopatra (40), Cptn. Jean Mullon (Killed in Action)
1809
HMS Sealark (4) lost at sea on the East coast of UK
1812
US declares war on Great Britain for impressment of sailors and interference with commerce
19 June
1798
HMS Aurora (28), Capt. Henry Digby, engaged off Adeira.
1807
Turkish fleet of 9 ships of the line, supported by 5 frigates and 5 small craft under Kapudan Pasha Seyit-Ali intercepted between Lemnos Island and Mount Athos by Russian fleet under Dmitry Senyavin of 10 ships of the line. Raphael (80), Cptn. Dmitry Lukin (Killed in Action), damaged Messudie (120), Seyit-Ali, and broke through the enemy's defence line also damaging Sed-ul-Bahr (84), Admiral Bekirbey, and 2 frigates before escaping. Tverdy (74), Admiral Senyavin, forced the leading Turkish ship to withdraw and the Turkish line being broken Seyit-Ali took flight. The fastest Russian vessels pursued. Selaphail (74), Cdr. Rozhnov, took Seid-ul-Bahr (84) and other ships cut off Besharet-Nyuma, as well as a frigate and a corvette which were set ablaze. Seyit-Ali was also forced to burn the lagging Tausu-Bahri (84) and a frigate in order to gain enough time to escape into the Dardanelles with his remaining vessels.
1808
The Danish brig Lougen, Lt. Peter F. Wulff, and 4 gunboats under Sub Lt. Fønss captures the British brig HMS Seagull (16), R. Cathcart, off Flekkerø in Norway.
1809
Boats of HMS Bellerophon (74), Cptn. Samuel Warren, carried Russian batteries at Hango.
1812
Boats of HMS Briseis (10), Cptn. John Ross, re-captured British merchant Urania from Pillau roads in the Baltic
1864
USS Kearsarge sinks Confederate raider Alabama off France
20 June
1743
HMS Centurion (50), Cptn. George Anson, took Nuestra Senora del Caba Donga (42), Admiral Don Geronimo Montero, worth £400,000 off Cape Spiritu Santo.
1781
HMS Castor (32) and HMS Crescent (28), Cptn. T. Packenham, Lt. John Bligh (act.), badly damaged from a previous engagement taken by French Gloire (40) and Friponne (36). HMS Flora (36), Cptn. William Pere Williams, escaped
1783
The Battle of Cuddalore. British fleet of 18 ships, under Admiral Sir Edward Hughes, engaged French fleet of 15 ships, under the Bailli de Suffren, off the coast of India. It took place after peace had been signed but before the news had reached India. It was the final battle of the American Revolutionary War.
1798
HM Brig Victorieuse (12), Edward Stirling Dickson, captures the French privateer Trois Couleurs (4) off Trinidad
1809
HMS Agamemnon (64), Cptn. Jonas Rose, ran on shore and wrecked in Maldonado Roads, Rio de la Plata.
1813
Fifteen U.S. gunboats engage HMS Junon (38), Cptn. James Sanders, HMS Narcissus (32), Cptn. John Richard Lumley, and HMS Barrossa (36), Cptn. William Henry Shirreff, in Hampton Roads, VA.
Capture of Dignano by boats of HMS Elizabeth (74), Cptn. Leveson Gower.
1815
Trials of Fulton I, built by Robert Fulton, are completed in New York. This ship would become the US Navy's first steam-driven warship.
1822
HMS Drake Sloop (10), Charles Adolphus Baker, wrecked off the coast of Newfoundland.
21 June
1588
First engagement between English ships and the Spanish Armada
1810
Manado surrendered to HMS Dover (38), Cptn. Edward Tucker.
22 June
1798
HMS Aurora (28), Capt. Henry Digby, destroyed French corvette Egalite (20)
1807
HMS Leopard (50), Cptn. Humphries, fired on USS Chesapeake (36), Cptn Barron, off the coast of Maryland
1813
Unsuccessful attack by boats of British squadron under Admiral Warren on Craney Island at Portsmouth, Virginia.
1865
Confederate raider Shenandoah fires last shot of Civil War in Bering Strait.
23 June
1795
Lord Bridport's victory over Vice-admiral Villaret-Joyeuse off L'Orient.
1798
HMS Rover ran aground off Gulf of St. Lawrence.
1800
Boats of Rear Ad. Sir John B. Warrens's squadron, HMS Renown (74) Cptn. Eyles, HMS Fisgard (44), Cptn. T. Byam Martin, and HMS Defence (74), Cptn. Lord H. Paulet, attacked a convoy in the Quimper River. When the enemy retired up stream they landed and blew up a battery and other works.
1808
HMS Porcupine (22), Cptn. Hon. Henry Duncan, drove ashore and destroyed a French vessel at Civita Vecchia.
1812
HMS Belvidera (36), Cptn. Richard Byron, engaged and escaped from USS President (44), Commodore John Rodgers, USS Congress (38), Cptn. John Smith, and USS United States (44), Stephen Decatur.
1813
Boats of HMS Castor (32), Cptn. Charles Dilkes, cut out French privateer Fortune off Catalonia.
24 June
1746
HMS Saltash (14) foundered off Beachy Head
1795
HMS Dido (28), Cptn. George Henry Towry, and HMS Lowestoffe (32), Cptn.Robert Gambier Middleton, engage the French frigates Minerve (42), Cptn. Jean-Baptiste Perrée, and Artémise (40), Cptn. Charbonnier, eventually capturing Minerve
1801
HMS Swiftsure captured by Dix Aout, &c.
1833
USS Constitution enters drydock at Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA, for overhaul. The ship was saved from scrapping after public support rallied to save the ship following publication of Oliver Wendell Holmes' poem, "Old Ironsides."
25 June
1667
Victory over anchored French Squadron, under Admiral Joseph de la Barre, at Martinique by British fleet, under Rear-Admiral Sir John Harman. At least eight French ships were burnt and several more were sunk.
1746
British squadron, under Cptn. Edward Peyton, engaged French fleet, under Comte de La Bourdonnais, in E. Indies.
1754
John Jervis (later Earl of St Vincent) moved to HMS Severn (50) as a Midshipman
1755
HMS Mars (64), Cptn. John Amherst, grounded and wrecked while going into harbour at Halifax NS.
1795
HMS Dido (28), Cptn. George Henry Towry, and HMS Lowestoffe (32), Cptn. Robert Gambier Middleton, engaged Minerve (40) and Artemise (36). Minerve was taken.
1803
HMS Endymion (50), Cptn. Hon. Charles Paget, captured French corvette Bacchante (18), Lt. Vaisseau.
1808
HMS Porcupine (22), Cptn. Hon. Henry Duncan, captured French letter of marque schooner Nouvelle Enterprise (6) south of Bastia.
1809
HMS Cyane (22), Cptn. Thomas Staines, and HMS Espoir (18), Robert Mitford, engaged Ceres.
1813
Capture of Hampton by boats of HMS Marlborough (74), Cptn. C. B. Ross, and squadron.
26 June
1748
HMS Fowey (44), Cptn. Francis William Drake, wrecked in the Gulf of Florida.
1766
HMS Saint Lawrence lost, off Ingonish
1798
HMS Seahorse (38), Cptn. Edward James Foote, captured French frigate Sensible (32) off the coast of Sicily
1799
HMS Alcmene (32), Cptn. H. Digby, captured French privateer Conrageux (28), Jean Bernard, off the coast of Portugal.
1806
Boats of HMS Port Mahon (18), Samuel Chambers, cut out Spanish letter of marque brig San Josef (7) from the harbour of Banes in Cuba.
1808
Boats of HMS Standard (64), Cptn. Thomas Harvey, captured Italian gunboat Volpe and French dispatch boat Leger off Corfu.
27 June
1588
Spanish Armada arrives at Calais
1796
HMS Inconstant (36) saved British residents at Leghorn.
1803
Boats of HMS Loire (40), Cptn. Frederick Maitland, captured Venteux (10) at anchor under a shore battery in the Isle de Bas Roads.
1811
HMS Guadaloupe (16), Joseph Swabey Tetley, engaged French Tactique (16) and Guepe (8) off the Cap de Creux.
28 June
1588
Fireship attack on Spanish Armada
1720
HMS Milford (32), Cptn. Peter Chamberlain, driven ashore and wrecked on the north west end of Cuba.
1776
HMS Actaeon (28), Cptn. Christopher Atkins, part of a squadron under Commodore Sir Peter Parker, grounded taking up position to attack Fort Moultrie at the southern end of Sullivan's Island, Charleston, SC, and was set on fire when she could not be got off.
1783
HMS Nymph (14) burnt by accident at Tortola
1794
HMS Rose (28) wrecked on Rocky-Point, Jamaica.
1801
Boats of HMS Mercury (28), Cptn. T Rogers, and HMS Corso (14), William Ricketts, captured pirate vessel Tigre (8) among the rocks of the Tremite Islands in the Adriatic.
1803
HMS Goliath (74), Capt. C. Brisbane, captured Mignonne (16), Cptn. J. P. Bargeaud, and HMS Hercule (74) engaged Poursuivante (40) off San Domingo.
1810
Boats of HMS Amphion (32), Cptn. William Hoste, and HMS Cerberus (32), Cptn Henry Whitby, and HMS ACTIVE (38), Cptn. James Alexander Gordon, took two forts and cut out 25 vessels from the harbour at Grao.
1811
HMS Firm Brig (12), Lt. John Little, grounded on a bank off the coast of France and set on fire to avoid capture..
1814
USS Wasp (22), Cptn. Johnston Blakely, captures HMS Reindeer (18), William Manners (Killed in Action), in the Atlantic
HMS Leopard (50), wrecked near the Island of Anticosti, Gulf of St. Lawrence.
1849
The Danish brig St. Croix, Lt Cmdr Peter C. Holm, on blockade in the Baltic, fights the Prussian paddle steamer Preussischer Adler, Commodore Schroeder, off Hela in the Bay of Danzig.
1865
CSS Shenandoah captures 11 American whalers in one day.
29 June
1758
HMS Renown (30) took French Guirlande (22)
1798
HMS Pique (38), Cptn. David Milne, and HMS Jason (46), Cptn. Charles Stirling, captured Seine (42). They all grounded near Pointe de la Trenche and Pique was bilged so it was necessary to destroy her.
1811
4 Danish gunboats, under Lt. Broder K. B. Wigelsen, took HMS Safeguard (14), Lt. Thomas England, off Randers fjord.
30 June
1690
Battle of Beachy Head. French fleet of 75 ships, under Comte de Tourville, defeated Anglo-Dutch fleet of 56 ships, under the Earl of Torrington. The Anglo-Dutch fleet lost 11 ships.
1797
Richard Parker, President of the "Floating Republic" at the Nore, hanged aboard HMS Sandwich (98)
1803
HMS Vanguard (74) Cptn. James Walker, and HMS Cumberland (74) captured French frigate Creole.
1808
HMS Capelin Schooner (6), Lt. Josias Bray, wrecked on sunken rock off entrance of Brest Harbor.
1814
USS Alligator schooner sank in Port Royal Sound during a heavy storm
1815
USS Peacock, Cptn. Lewis Warrington, takes HMS Nautilus, last action of the War of 1812
May
*Dates of events prior to September 1752 may be quoted differently in some countries as both the Julian and Gregorian calendars were in use by countries. Calendars were regularised when Britain passed the Calendar Act of 1751 An Act for Regulating the Commencement of the Year; and for Correcting the Calendar now in Use.