1st Battle of Cape Finisterre

14th May 1747

The projects of the French were known in England; and a squadron, under Vice-Admiral George Anson and Rear-Admiral Peter Warren, was specially fitted out to checkmate them. The forces which were ultimately opposed one to the other are set forth in the note 1 (p. 125). The French had with them a convoy, which brought the total number of their sail up to thirty-eight. M. de St. Georges left Groix in March, but, after suffering some losses from British cruisers and from very bad weather, had to put into the road of Isle d'Aix. La Jonquiere there joined him. and the two finally sailed on April 29th. Anson and Warren had left England on April 9th and had proceeded off Cape Finisterre, where, on May 3rd, the Cape bearing S.E., distant twenty-four leagues, they sighted the French. La Jonquiere thereupon caused twelve of his best ships to shorten sail and form a line of battle ahead, while the rest stretched to the westward and crowded every possible stitch of canvas. Anson also made signal for a line of battle, believing apparently that he was in the presence of a more formidable squadron than was really before him; but, at Warren's insistance, he substituted the signal for a general chase.

	The British Fleet of George Anson
	Ship's Name	Guns	Commander	Notes
	Prince George	96	John Bentley	flagship, not engaged
	Devonshire	66	Temple West	Flagship of Rear-Admiral Peter Warren
	Namur	74	Edward Boscawen
	Monmouth	64	Henry Harrison	not engaged
	Prince Frederick	64	Harry Norris	not engaged
	Yarmouth	64	Piercy Brett
	Princess Louisa	58	Charles Watson	not engaged
	Nottingham	60	Philip de Saumarez	not engaged
	Defiance	60	Thomas Grenville
	Pembroke	60	Thomas Flincher
	Windsor	60	Thomas Hanway
	Centurion	50	Peter Denis
	Falkland	50	Bloomfield Barradell	not engaged
	Bristol	50	William Montagu
	Ambuscade	40	John Montagu	not engaged
	Falcon	14	Richard Gwynn	not engaged
	Vulcan	16	William Pettigrew	fireship, not engaged
	The French Fleet of de la Jonquière
	Ship's Name	Guns	Commander	Notes
	Diamant	56
	Philibert	30	Jacques Lars de Lescouet	East-indiaman
	Vigilant	20	Pierre Bourau de Vaumulon	East-indiaman
	Chimere	36		East-indiaman
	Rubis	52
	Jason	50
	Serieux	64	d'Aubigny	flagship
	Invincible	74
	Apollon	30	Charles Nouel des Antons	East-indiaman
	Thetis	22	Masson	East-indiaman
	Modeste	18	François Thiercelin	East-indiaman
	Gloire	40
	French ships with the convoy
	Ship's Name	Guns	Commander	Notes
	Emeraude	40
	Dartmouth	18	Louis Pinochet	East-indiaman

Description of the action

La Jonquiere was but ill-supported. Several of the French East India ships, especially the Vigilant and Modeste, and later the Thetis and Apollon, looked to nothing but the idea of saving themselves. It is useless to examine the tactical details of an action of this kind. Suffice to say, that, after a running fight lasting from 4 to 7 P.M., in which several of the French captains behaved with great courage and others conducted themselves with equal cowardice, all the ships which had remained in the French line struck. At 7 P.M. Anson brought to, and detached the Monmouth, Yarmouth and Nottingham in pursuit of the convoy, which then bore W. by S.W., distant about five leagues, and which had been followed and observed during the action by the Falcon. These ships captured the Vigilant, the Modeste and the Dartmouth, once a British privateer, together with six of the convoy. Night saved the rest.

The battle, considering its nature, was a costly one. The French lost about 700 killed and wounded, and the British, 520. Among the French officers killed was Captain de Saliez, and among those wounded were La Jonquiere himself and d'Aubigny, his flag captain. On the British side Captain Thomas Grenville, of the Defiance, was killed, and Captain Boscawen, of the Namur, wounded. The victors found specie to the value of 300,000 on board the prizes. For this service Anson was created a peer, and Warren, a K.B. All the men-of-war taken, and also the East Indiaman Thetis, were purchased into the Royal Navy. The name of the Serieux was changed to Intrepid, and that of the Diamant to Isis.

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