A rare French naval victory during the War of the First Coalition, capturing HMS Alexander in the Celtic Sea between two major British fleet victories.
Key Facts
- Date (French Revolutionary)
- 16 Brumaire an III
- British ships involved
- HMS Alexander and HMS Canada
- French base
- Brest, France
- French commander
- Contre-amiral Joseph-Marie Nielly
- British captain who surrendered
- Captain Richard Rodney Bligh (Alexander)
- Outcome
- HMS Alexander captured; HMS Canada escaped
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
A French squadron sailed from Brest in October 1794 seeking an inward-bound British convoy. The Royal Navy's distant blockade policy left no ships watching Brest, as the assigned force was at Plymouth, giving the French squadron freedom to operate undetected in the Celtic Sea.
The French squadron under Contre-amiral Nielly intercepted HMS Alexander and HMS Canada returning to Britain. After the two ships separated to flee, Canada outran pursuit, but the slower Alexander was successively engaged by French ships. After driving off two opponents, a third came alongside and, following a close-fought duel, compelled Captain Bligh to surrender.
HMS Alexander was captured, marking a rare French victory at sea between the British triumphs at the Glorious First of June and the Battle of Groix. The engagement exposed the vulnerability of the distant blockade policy, which left British ships without warning of French fleet movements from Brest.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Captain Richard Rodney Bligh.
Side B
1 belligerent
Contre-amiral Joseph-Marie Nielly.