The French defeat at Jersey in 1781 ended the last serious attempt to capture the island, securing British control of a key privateering base in the English Channel.
Key Facts
- Date
- 6 January 1781
- Conflict
- American War of Independence
- French casualties
- Nearly half the invading force
- French commander
- Baron Philippe de Rullecourt (died of wounds)
- British commander
- Major Francis Peirson (killed in battle)
- Notable artwork
- Painting by John Singleton Copley
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Jersey served as a base for British privateers who threatened French and American shipping during the American War of Independence. France sought to neutralize this threat by capturing the island, prompting an amphibious expedition under Baron Philippe de Rullecourt in early 1781.
On 6 January 1781, French forces landed on the British-ruled island of Jersey and occupied St. Helier. The British garrison, led by Major Francis Peirson, counterattacked. In the ensuing battle, both commanders were killed — Peirson during the fighting and Rullecourt from wounds sustained in the engagement — and the French invasion was decisively repelled.
The French expedition lost nearly half its force and failed to seize Jersey. The defeat ended French ambitions to capture the island, and British control was firmly maintained. Major Peirson's death became a celebrated moment in British military memory, immortalized in a famous painting by John Singleton Copley.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Major Francis Peirson.
Side B
1 belligerent
Baron Philippe de Rullecourt.