French capture of Saint Vincent
Encyclopedia
The Capture of Saint Vincent took place on 16–18 June 1779 during the American War of Independence. A French
force commanded by Charles Marie, Chevalier de Trolong Durumain, arrived on the West Indies isle of Saint Vincent
and quickly occupied its high ground. The British commander Lieutenant Colonel George Etherington put up little resistance, and Governor Valentine Morris
signed the capitulation.
into the American War of Independence as an American ally
in early 1778, French Admiral the Comte D'Estaing
arrived in the West Indies in early December 1778 in command of a fleet consisting of 12 ships of the line and a number of smaller vessels. At about the same time a British fleet under Admiral William Hotham
also arrived. The British then captured French-held St. Lucia, despite d'Estaing's attempt at relief
. The British used St. Lucia to monitor the major French base at Martinique
, where d'Estaing was headquartered.
The British fleet was further reinforced in January 1779 by ten ships of the line under Admiral John Byron
, who assumed command of the British Leeward Islands station. Throughout the first half of 1779 both fleets received further reinforcements, after which the French fleet was slightly superior to that of the British. However, Byron departed St. Lucia on June 6 in order to provide escort services to British merchant ships gathering at St. Kitts for a convoy to Europe, leaving d'Estaing free to act. D'Estaing and Governor [François Claude Amour, marquis de Bouillé|the marquis de Bouillé]] seized the opportunity to begin a series of operations against nearby British possessions. Their first target was the isle of Saint Vincent
, just south of St. Lucia.
s under the command of Lieutenant Charles Marie de Trolong Durumain, while de Bouillé infiltrated spies into the Black Carib populations on Saint Vincent that opposed British rule, who were also supplied them with arms. Durumain sailed from Martinique in 9 June, reaching Saint Vincent on the 16th.
As soon as Durumain's forces occupied the high ground above Kingstown
, the British garrison (made up of 464 men of the Royal Americans, although only about 250 were fit for duty) under Lieutenant Colonel George Etherington surrendered without a fight.
at the end of June, but was unable to make significant progress against the prevailing winds. He gave up the attempt, sailing instead for Grenada
, which he captured by storm on 5 July. Admiral Byron had been alerted to the capture of Saint Vincent on 1 July, and was preparing a force to retake it when he learnt of the attack on Grenada. He immediately sailed there, arriving on the morning of 6 June. The fleets battled off Grenada
, with d'Estaing prevailing over Byron's disorganized attack. Grenada also remained in French hands until the end of the war.
Saint Vincent was returned to British control under the terms of the 1783 Treaty of Paris
. Lieutenant Colonel Etherington was subjected to an enquiry at St. Lucia in 1781 over his conduct during the invasion. Governor Morris, a long-time resident of the island, never returned, dying in England in 1789.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
force commanded by Charles Marie, Chevalier de Trolong Durumain, arrived on the West Indies isle of Saint Vincent
Saint Vincent (island)
Saint Vincent is a volcanic island in the Caribbean. It is the largest island of the chain called Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is located in the Caribbean Sea, between Saint Lucia and Grenada. It is composed of partially submerged volcanic mountains...
and quickly occupied its high ground. The British commander Lieutenant Colonel George Etherington put up little resistance, and Governor Valentine Morris
Valentine Morris
Valentine Morris was a British landowner born in Antigua in the West Indies, who was responsible for developing the picturesque woodland walks at Piercefield in the Wye valley and later became Governor of St...
signed the capitulation.
Background
Following the entry of FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
into the American War of Independence as an American ally
Franco-American alliance
The Franco-American alliance refers to the 1778 alliance between Louis XVI's France and the United States, during the American Revolutionary War. Formalized in the 1778 Treaty of Alliance, it was a military pact in which France provided arms and money, and engaged in full-scale war with Britain. ...
in early 1778, French Admiral the Comte D'Estaing
Charles Hector, comte d'Estaing
Jean Baptiste Charles Henri Hector, comte d'Estaing was a French general, and admiral. He began his service as a soldier in the War of the Austrian Succession, briefly spending time as a prisoner of war of the British during the Seven Years' War...
arrived in the West Indies in early December 1778 in command of a fleet consisting of 12 ships of the line and a number of smaller vessels. At about the same time a British fleet under Admiral William Hotham
William Hotham, 1st Baron Hotham
Admiral William Hotham, 1st Baron Hotham was an officer in the Royal Navy. He was the son of Sir Beaumont Hotham , a lineal descendant of Sir John Hotham....
also arrived. The British then captured French-held St. Lucia, despite d'Estaing's attempt at relief
Battle of St. Lucia
The Battle of St. Lucia or the Battle of the Cul de Sac was a naval battle fought off the island of St. Lucia in the West Indies during the American War of Independence on 15 December 1778, between the British Royal Navy and the French Navy.-Background:...
. The British used St. Lucia to monitor the major French base at Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
, where d'Estaing was headquartered.
The British fleet was further reinforced in January 1779 by ten ships of the line under Admiral John Byron
John Byron
Vice Admiral The Hon. John Byron, RN was a Royal Navy officer. He was known as Foul-weather Jack because of his frequent bad luck with weather.-Early career:...
, who assumed command of the British Leeward Islands station. Throughout the first half of 1779 both fleets received further reinforcements, after which the French fleet was slightly superior to that of the British. However, Byron departed St. Lucia on June 6 in order to provide escort services to British merchant ships gathering at St. Kitts for a convoy to Europe, leaving d'Estaing free to act. D'Estaing and Governor [François Claude Amour, marquis de Bouillé|the marquis de Bouillé]] seized the opportunity to begin a series of operations against nearby British possessions. Their first target was the isle of Saint Vincent
Saint Vincent (island)
Saint Vincent is a volcanic island in the Caribbean. It is the largest island of the chain called Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is located in the Caribbean Sea, between Saint Lucia and Grenada. It is composed of partially submerged volcanic mountains...
, just south of St. Lucia.
Capture
D'Estaing organized a force of 300 troops and three corvetteCorvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
s under the command of Lieutenant Charles Marie de Trolong Durumain, while de Bouillé infiltrated spies into the Black Carib populations on Saint Vincent that opposed British rule, who were also supplied them with arms. Durumain sailed from Martinique in 9 June, reaching Saint Vincent on the 16th.
As soon as Durumain's forces occupied the high ground above Kingstown
Kingstown
Kingstown is the chief port of Saint Vincent, and the capital of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. With a population of 25,418 Kingstown is a centre for the island's agricultural industry and a port of entry for tourists...
, the British garrison (made up of 464 men of the Royal Americans, although only about 250 were fit for duty) under Lieutenant Colonel George Etherington surrendered without a fight.
Aftermath
After Durumain's success, d'Estaing sailed with his entire fleet for BarbadosBarbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
at the end of June, but was unable to make significant progress against the prevailing winds. He gave up the attempt, sailing instead for Grenada
Grenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
, which he captured by storm on 5 July. Admiral Byron had been alerted to the capture of Saint Vincent on 1 July, and was preparing a force to retake it when he learnt of the attack on Grenada. He immediately sailed there, arriving on the morning of 6 June. The fleets battled off Grenada
Battle of Grenada
The Battle of Grenada took place on 6 July 1779 during the American War of Independence in the West Indies between the British Royal Navy and the French Navy.-Origins:...
, with d'Estaing prevailing over Byron's disorganized attack. Grenada also remained in French hands until the end of the war.
Saint Vincent was returned to British control under the terms of the 1783 Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris (1783)
The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain on the one hand and the United States of America and its allies on the other. The other combatant nations, France, Spain and the Dutch Republic had separate agreements; for details of...
. Lieutenant Colonel Etherington was subjected to an enquiry at St. Lucia in 1781 over his conduct during the invasion. Governor Morris, a long-time resident of the island, never returned, dying in England in 1789.
Further reading
- Narrative of the Official Conduct of Valentine Morris. Self-publication by Morris of documents pertaining to his tenure as governor, including affidavits gathered for inquiries after the capture, and the articles of capitulation.
- An historical account of the island of Saint Vincent
- Batailles navales de la France Brief French account of the capture.