A British naval victory in the Caribbean during the Seven Years' War that eliminated or captured several French frigates and a convoy within three days.
Key Facts
- Dates of action
- 17–19 October 1760
- French frigates lost
- 4 (captured, wrecked, or destroyed)
- Sirène casualties
- ~80 killed and wounded
- Valeur casualties
- 38 killed, 25 wounded
- British casualties (Boreas)
- 1 killed, 1 wounded
- Merchant prizes captured
- 3 (Maria, Elizabeth, Pursue)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the Seven Years' War, a French convoy escorted by four frigates and a corvette departed Cap-Français in the Caribbean. British forces under Admiral Charles Holmes detected the convoy in the Windward Passage and moved to intercept it, initiating a multi-day chase hampered by light winds.
Between 17 and 19 October 1760, British ships HMS Boreas, HMS Lively, and HMS Hampshire engaged the French escorts in separate actions. Boreas captured the frigate Sirène after a two-day fight; Lively forced the corvette Valeur to surrender after 90 minutes; HMS Hampshire drove Prince Edward ashore where it blew up and caused Fleur de Lys to be scuttled. Three merchant vessels were also taken as prizes.
The action resulted in a decisive British victory: four French warships were eliminated and three merchant frigates were captured. France lost the convoy's cargo of sugar and indigo along with several hundred sailors killed, wounded, or captured, further weakening French naval power in the Caribbean theater.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Admiral Charles Holmes, Captain Coningsby Norbury (HMS Boreas), Captain Frederick Lewis Maitland (HMS Lively).
Side B
1 belligerent
Captain Talbot (Valeur), Captain Dubois (Prince Edward), Captain Bellevan (Duc de Choiseul).