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Quiberon Bay, battle of
Quiberon Bay, battle of, 1759. This bay lies on the Biscay coast of France between Lorient and Saint-Nazaire. Here, on 20 November 1759, was fought one of the most brilliant engagements in the annals of naval warfare. Britain stood in danger of invasion by France, and by November Sir Edward Hawke had blockaded the fleet of Conflans in Brest since the previous May. When the weather blew Hawke off station, Conflans was able to break out, but early on the 20th Hawke, a little superior in strength, had news that Conflans's 24 ships had entered Quiberon. He risked everything by following the French into this barely known anchorage in fading light and heavy squalls, and did indeed lose two ships through weather, though their crews were saved. But six French ships were destroyed in the ensuing action, and many of the remainder suffered irreparable damage in flight. Hawke considered that ‘all that could possibly be done has been done’, and the French admiringly conceded his achievement.
David Denis Aldridge |
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JOHN CANNON. "Quiberon Bay, battle of." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN CANNON. "Quiberon Bay, battle of." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-QuiberonBaybattleof.html JOHN CANNON. "Quiberon Bay, battle of." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-QuiberonBaybattleof.html |
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Quiberon Bay, battle of
Quiberon Bay, battle of, 1759. This bay lies on the Biscay coast of France. Here, on 20 November 1759, was fought one of the most brilliant engagements in the annals of naval warfare. Britain stood in danger of invasion by France, and Sir Edward Hawke had blockaded the fleet of Conflans in Brest since the previous May. When the weather blew Hawke off station, Conflans broke out, but early on the 20th Hawke had news that Conflans's 24 ships had entered Quiberon. He risked everything by following the French into this barely known anchorage in fading light and heavy squalls. Six French ships were destroyed in the ensuing action, and many of the remainder suffered irreparable damage.
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Cite this article
JOHN CANNON. "Quiberon Bay, battle of." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN CANNON. "Quiberon Bay, battle of." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-QuiberonBaybattleof.html JOHN CANNON. "Quiberon Bay, battle of." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-QuiberonBaybattleof.html |
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Quiberon Bay, Battle of
Quiberon Bay, Battle of (1759) A major British naval victory in the SEVEN YEARS WAR that took place at Quiberon Bay on the west coast of Brittany in northern France. The French were planning to invade Britain. In 1759 Admiral HAWKE was blockading Brest, but in November the French admiral Conflans broke out during a storm. Hawke pursued the French fleet and when most of the ships took shelter in Quiberon Bay he came through the dangerous shoals in a gale. The French lost 11 ships and 25,000 men, and the British only two ships, ending the threat of a French invasion of Britain.
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Cite this article
"Quiberon Bay, Battle of." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Quiberon Bay, Battle of." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-QuiberonBayBattleof.html "Quiberon Bay, Battle of." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-QuiberonBayBattleof.html |
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