First battle of Cape Finisterre (1747)

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=First battle of Cape Finisterre
partof=the War of the Austrian Succession


caption=
date=14 May 1747
place=Off Cape Finisterre
result=British victory
combatant1=flagicon|United Kingdom|1606 Great Britain
combatant2=flagicon|France|restauration [1911 Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Edition, New York 1910, Vol.X, p.460: "The oriflamme and the Chape de St Martin were succeeded at the end of the 16th century, when Henry III., the last of the house of Valois, came to the throne, by the white standard powdered with fleurs-de-lis. This in turn gave place to the famous tricolour."George Ripley, Charles Anderson Dana, "The American Cyclopaedia", New York, 1874, p. 250, "...the standard of France was white, sprinkled with golden fleur de lis...". * [http://www.anyflag.com/history/fleur23.htm] The original Banner of France was strewn with fleurs-de-lis. ] France
commander1=Admiral George Anson
commander2=Admiral de la Jonquière
strength1=14 ships of the line,
1 frigate,
1 fireship
strength2=4 ships of the line,
2 frigates,
30 merchantmen
casualties1=
casualties2=4 ships of the line,
2 frigates,
7 merchantmen capturedThe First Battle of Cape Finisterre (14 May 1747 [in the Julian calendar then in use in Britain this was 3 May 1747 ] ) saw 14 British ships of the line under Admiral George Anson attack a French 30-ship convoy commanded by Admiral de la Jonquière during the War of the Austrian Succession. The British captured 4 ships of the line, 2 frigates and 7 merchantmen, in a five-hour battle in the Bay of Biscay off Cape Finisterre in northwest Spain. The other supply ships escaped.

Anson on the "Prince George" and Rear-Admiral Sir Peter Warren on the " Devonshire" had sailed from Plymouth on the 9th of April to intercept French shipping. When a large convoy was sighted Admiral Anson had made the signal to form line of battle, when Rear-Admiral Warren, suspecting the enemy to be merely manoeuvring to favour the escape of the convoy, bore down and communicated his opinion to the admiral, who thereon threw out a signal for a general chase. The Centurion , under a press of sail, was the first to come up with the rearmost French ship, which she attacked heavily and two other ships dropped astern to her support. Three more English ships coming up including the Devonshire, the action became general. The French, though much inferior in numbers, fought till seven in the evening, when all their ships were taken, as well as nine sail of East India merhantmen. The enemy lost 700 men, killed and wounded, and the British 520. Upwards of £300,000 were found on board the ships of war, which were turned into British ships.

Following his victory, Anson was promoted to Vice Admiral and raised to the peerage.

Another convoy action - the Second Battle of Cape Finisterre - followed that October.

Ships involved:

Britain (George Anson)

"Prince George" 90 (flag)
"Devonshire" 66
"Namur" 74
"Monmouth" 64
"Prince Frederick" 64
"Yarmouth" 64
"Princess Louisa" 60
"Nottingham" 60
"Defiance" 60
"Pembroke" 60
"Windsoe" 60
"Centurion" 50
"Falkland" 50
"Bristol" 50
"Ambuscade" 40
"Falcon" 10
"Vulcan" 8 (fireship)

France (de la Jonquière)

"Diamant"* 30/56 - Captured, sunk later
"Philibert"* 30 - Captured
"Vigilant"* 20 - Captured
"Chimère" 36
"Rubis" 52 - Captured
"Jason" 50 - Captured
"Sérieux" 64 (flag) - Captured
"Invincible" 74 - Captured
"Apollon"* 30 - Captured
"Thétis"* 22 - Captured
"Modeste"* 18 - Captured
"Gloire" 40 - Captured
"Emeraude" 40
"Dartmouth"* 18 (ex-British privateer) - Captured
convoy of 24 ships or fewer - 6 captured

Ships marked * were of the French East India Company

Note

ee also

*Battle of Cape Finisterre for other battles of this name