The largest French naval victory of the Nine Years' War, temporarily giving France control of the English Channel.
Key Facts
- Date
- 10 July 1690
- Dutch ships of the line lost
- 7 ships
- Dutch fire ships lost
- 3 ships
- English ships of the line lost
- 1 ships
- French vessels lost
- 0 ships
- Conflict
- Nine Years' War
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the Nine Years' War, a French fleet under Vice-Admiral Anne Hilarion de Tourville encountered the combined Anglo-Dutch fleet in the English Channel. English Admiral Arthur Herbert, 1st Earl of Torrington, advised against engaging the numerically superior French force, but Queen Mary II and her ministers overruled him and ordered battle.
On 10 July 1690, the French fleet met the Anglo-Dutch fleet off Beachy Head. The engagement resulted in the Dutch losing seven ships of the line and three fire ships, the English losing one ship of the line, and the French suffering no vessel losses, making it the most significant French naval victory of the war.
France temporarily gained control of the English Channel, though Tourville failed to press his advantage and was later relieved of command. Torrington was court-martialled for his conduct; although acquitted, King William III dismissed him from service, ending his naval career.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Anne Hilarion de Tourville.
Side B
2 belligerents
Arthur Herbert, 1st Earl of Torrington.