A British frigate captured the powerful French raider Forte near Calcutta, ending a threat to merchant shipping but costing the victorious captain his life.
Key Facts
- Date
- 28 February 1799
- Location
- Mouth of the Hooghly River, Bay of Bengal
- Duration of resistance
- More than two hours
- Forte crew losses
- Over one-third killed or wounded
- British captain's fate
- Edward Cooke died three months later from grape shot wounds
- Fate of captured ship
- Forte commissioned into Royal Navy, wrecked in Red Sea two years later
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The French frigate Forte, an exceptionally large and powerful vessel, was conducting a commerce raiding operation against British merchant shipping near Calcutta. To counter this threat, the Royal Navy dispatched HMS Sybille from Madras. Acting on intelligence from released prisoners, Captain Edward Cooke located Forte anchored at the mouth of the Hooghly River with two recently captured British merchantmen on the evening of 28 February 1799.
HMS Sybille attacked Forte while the French frigate was at anchor and apparently unprepared for battle. The French captain Hubert Le Loup de Beaulieu was killed in the opening raking broadside. Forte's crew resisted for over two hours before surrendering when the ship was reduced to a wreck and more than a third of her crew were killed or wounded. British casualties were comparatively light, though Captain Cooke was struck by grape shot during the engagement.
Lieutenant Lucius Hardyman took command, repaired both ships, and sailed them into Calcutta. Forte was commissioned into the Royal Navy under the same name but was accidentally wrecked in the Red Sea two years later. The two recaptured British merchant ships escaped under their French prize crews during the repairs. Captain Cooke succumbed to his wounds three months after the action, depriving the Navy of the officer most responsible for the victory.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Edward Cooke, Lucius Hardyman.
Side B
1 belligerent
Hubert Le Loup de Beaulieu.