A rare French naval victory in the Mediterranean, resulting in the capture of HMS Swiftsure during the French Revolutionary Wars.
Key Facts
- Date
- 24 June 1801
- Location
- Near Cape Derna, Southern Mediterranean
- British commander
- Captain Benjamin Hallowell, HMS Swiftsure
- French commander
- Contre-Amiral Honoré Ganteaume
- Outcome
- Swiftsure surrendered after being surrounded
- Later fate of Swiftsure
- Fought at Trafalgar (1805), recaptured by British
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following the destruction of the French Mediterranean Fleet at the Battle of the Nile in 1798, the French garrison in Egypt was cut off. Contre-Amiral Ganteaume led repeated failed expeditions to reinforce them. In June 1801, his squadron was returning westward through the Southern Mediterranean after another unsuccessful attempt.
On 24 June 1801, HMS Swiftsure under Captain Benjamin Hallowell encountered Ganteaume's much larger French squadron near Cape Derna. Hallowell attempted to flee, then turned to fight in hopes of disabling the lead pursuers, but within two hours his sluggish vessel was surrounded. Unable to escape or resist destruction, Hallowell surrendered his ship.
Swiftsure was commissioned into the French Navy and fought at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, where she was recaptured by the British and returned to the Royal Navy. Hallowell was court martialled for the loss of his ship but was honourably acquitted and resumed his naval career.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Captain Benjamin Hallowell.
Side B
1 belligerent
Contre-Amiral Honoré Ganteaume.