June 24, 1340.

Off Sluys.- The English fleet, under Edward III, the Earls of Derby, Northampton, and Arundel, defeat a superior French force, manned by Normans, Picards, and Genoese. The French loss is estimated at between 25,000 and 30,000, and the English at 4,000, killed and wounded.

August 29, 1360.

Off Winchelsea.- Between the English, under Edward Ill., and Spaniards, who were completely beaten, and lost 26 large ships.

June 22, 1372.

0ff Rochelle.- Between the English, under the Earl of Pembroke, and a very superior force of Spaniards. Almost all the English ships were taken or destroyed.

March 24, 1387.

In the Channel.-A large Flemish fleet totally defeated by the Earl of Arundel's squadron. 80 sail were taken.

August 15, 1416.

Off Harfleur.-The English fleet, under John Plantagenet, Duke of Bedford, and Sir Walter Hungerford, defeat a large number of Genoese carracks, hired by the French. The English lose 100, and the French 1,500.

August 10, 1512.

Off Brest. - A desperate engagement, but with no decisive results, between the English and French fleets : the first action in which great guns were extensively need .

1513.

0ff Brest.- Between the English and French. Sir Edward Howard. in rashly boarding a large French galley, was slain.

July 18 and 19, 1545.

0ff Portsmouth.- Indecisive engagement between an immense French armada, under D'Annebault, and the English fleet, under Lord Lisle. (See Chapter II - The Story of the "Mary Rose.")

July 19 to July 28, 1588

In the Channel and Straits of Dover.- Defeat of the Spanish (misnamed the Invincible) Armada by the English under Lord Howard of Effingham, Sir Francis Drake, Sir John Hawkins, Raleigh, Frobisher, and others.

June 20, 1596.

Cadiz.-Capture of Cadiz, and destruction of the Spanish fleet, by an expedition under the Earl of Nottingham, Earl of Essex, Raleigh, and others.

May 18, 1652.

In Dover Roads.- Between the Dutch, under Van Tromp, and the English, under Blake. The Dutch lost two ships.

July 4, 1652.

On, the French Coast.- Sir George Ayscue defeats a French fleet of 40 sail, and captures or destroys 30.

August 16, 1652.

Off Plymouth.- Sir George Ayscue, with 33 ships, defeats De Ruyter, at the head of a Dutch fleet of equal force. Two Dutch ships were sunk.

September 28, 1652.

Off the Goodwin Sands.- Blake and Penn defeat the Dutch, under Admirals De Witt and De Ruyter. They capture several ships.

November 29, 1652.

Off the Ness.- A Dutch fleet, of 95 sail, under Van Tromp, attacks Blake, who has only 40 ships under his command. Two English ships were taken, after a desperate resistance, and Van Tromp cruises with a broom at his mast-head, to intimate that he would sweep all English shipping off the narrow seas.

February 18, 19, and 20, 1653.

In the Channel.-Three days' engagement between the English (70 ships), under Admirals Blake, Monk, and Deane, and the Dutch (73 ships), under Tromp, De Ruyter, and Evertzen. The Dutch lose 11 ships of war, 1,500 killed, and 700 prisoners.

June 2 and 3, 1653.

Off the Gable.- The English (105 ships) under Monk and. Deane, afterwards joined by Blake, attack a Dutch fleet of equal force, under Tromp, De Witt, and De Ruyter. 20 Dutch ships were taken or destroyed.

August 7, 1654.

Off the Texel.- Between Van Tromp (who was killed in the action) and Admirals Monk, Penn, Jordan, and others. The two fleets were about equal in force. The Dutch lost 26 men-of-war, 2,700 men killed, 2,500 wounded, and 1,000 prisoners. The English lost three ships, and 1,300 killed and wounded. The Dutch now sued for peace.

1655.

Bombardment of Tunis, by the English fleet, under Blake.

April 20, 1657.

Bombardment of Santa Cruz, and destruction of six Spanish galleons, by the English fleet under Blake.

June 1, 2, and 3, 1665.

Solebay.- Between the English fleet, under the Duke of York, Sir William Penn, Sir John Lawson, and Sir George Ayscue (110 ships), and the Dutch (120), under Opdam, the two Evertzens, and Cornelius Tromp. After an animated action, the Dutch fled, and were pursued nearly to their own coast. They lost 24 ships taken, burnt, and sunk; and between 6,000 and 7,000 killed, wounded, and prisoners. The English lost 250 killed and 340 wounded.

June 1 to 4, 1666.

0f the Goodwin.-The Dutch, under De Ruyter, Evertzen, and Cornelius Tromp; the English, under Monk, Duke of Albemarle, and Prince Rupert. Owing to the ill-feeling which existed between the English commanders, the Dutch, after four days' severe fighting, obtained a slight advantage. The English lost 600 killed, 1,100 wounded, and 2,000 prisoners.

July 25, 1666.

0ff the North Foreland.- The two fleets, under the same admirals, again met in battle, the superiority of force being with the Dutch, who, however, were totally defeated, with a loss of 20 ships and 4,000 men killed and drowned.

May 10, 1667.

Off St. Christopher's, West Indies.-Sir John Harman, with 12 frigates, defeats the Dutch and French squadrons of 22 ships, destroying several.

May 3, 1672.

In Solebay.- The French and English fleets, of nearly 140 sail, under the Duke of York and the Comte d'Estrees, are attached by a Dutch fleet of 75 heavy ships and 40 frigates, under De Ruyter, Bancquert, and Van Ghent. The French leaving the English to bear the whole brunt of the action it ended indecisively, but the Royal James, a 100-gun ship, exploded, and the gallant Earl of Sandwich perished on board.

May 28, 1673.

In the Channel.-Between the English, under Prince Rupert and Sir Edward Spragge, and the Dutch, under Tromp, who were compelled to retreat. Another action, with a similar result, occurred on June 4.

August 11, 1673.

0ff the Coast of Holland.- Between the English and French 90 ships) and the Dutch (100), under De Ruyter and Banequert. The French, at the first onset, sailed away, and the English slowly retired to their own shores.

May 1, 1689.

Bantry Bay.- Between the English (19 sail of the line), under Admiral Herbert, and the French (28) under Admiral Chateau Renaud, - ending in a drawn battle.

June 30, 1690.

Off Beachy Head.- Between the English and Dutch (56 sail), under the Earl of Torrington, and the French (78 sail) under the Comte de Tourville. Neither combatant won much glory in this action.

May 19 to 23, 1692.

Off Cape La .Rogue.- Admiral Russet's fleet consisted of 99 ships, English and Dutch, with 6,998 guns; the French, under De Tourville, of 105 ships, with about 5,300 guns. The French were totally defeated, and lost 16 ships.

June 17, 1693.

In Lagos Bay.- Sir George Rooks, with 23 sail of the line, and a large convoy, is attacked by a French fleet of 71 sail of the line, but saves a part of his convoy with the loss of only three men-of-war.

August 20 to 24, 1702.

Off Santa Martha.- Vice-Admiral Benbow, with seven ships, the largest a 70, falls in with the French (10) under Rear-Admiral Du Casse. Four of the British ships made no effort to join in the action, but Benbow compelled the French to retreat. He died of his wounds and of chagrin, at Jamaica, on the 4th of November. Two of his captains were afterwards shot.

October 12, 1702.

At Vigo.- The English and Dutch, under Sir George Rooks and Vice-Admiral Hopson (25 men-of-war), break into Vigo Harbour, and capture and destroy 17 French ships, carrying 960 guns, under the fire of the land batteries. Three Spanish men-of-war, and 15 galleons, were also taken or burnt.

August 13, 1704.

Off Malaga: Between the English and Dutch, under Sir George Rooks (59 ships, 3,700 guns, 23,200 men), and the French, under the Comte Thoulouse (58 ships, 3,689 guns, 25,181 men). The French compelled to retire, with a loss of 3,239 killed and wounded. The English lose about 2,719.

May 28, 1708.

Near Carthagena (America).- Commodore Wager, with three 60-gun ships, chases 17 Spanish galleons and sloops, destroys the admiral's ship, and captures the rear-admiral's.

July 31, 1718.

Off Cape Passaro.- The English (21 ships, carrying 1,390 guns, and 8,885 men), under Sir George Byng, attack the Spanish (29 sail, with about 900 guns, and 8,830 men) ; but eight ships, under Captain Walton, were despatched to pursue eight Spanish, who attempted to get inshore. Altogether the Spanish lost 10 ships taken, and three destroyed.

November 21, 1739.

Capture of Porto Bello, and destruction of Spanish shipping, by a squadron of three 70'a, two 60's, and one 50, under Vice-Admiral Vernon.

February 11, 1744.

Off Toulon.- Between the English (27 ships of the line, nine of 50, and 12 of 40 guns and less, of which six 50's, two 40's, and the smaller vessels were not included in the line-of-battle), under Admiral Matthews and Vice-Admiral Lestock, and the Franco-Spanish fleet (28 sail of the line, including a 114-gun ship), under Admiral Navarro and M. de Court. One Spanish ship was captured. For this disgraceful action Admiral Matthews was cashiered.

May 3, 1747.

Off Cape Finisterre.- Vice-Admiral Anson's fleet (15 sail), attacked the French (38 sail), under M. de la Jonquiere, and gained a complete victory, capturing six men-of-war, and four armed (French) East Indiamen.

October 14, 1747.

Off Cape Finisterre.- A squadron (one 61, one 70, three 64's, seven 60's, and two 50's), under Rear-Admiral Hawks, attack the French (one 80, three 74's, one 70, three 64's, two 56's, and numerous frigates), under M. do Letendeur, and capture six ships.

October 1, 1748.

Near the Havannah.- Between Rear-Admiral Knowles's squadron (seven ships, 926 guns) and a Spanish squadron of superior force. The Spanish were defeated, and lost one ship, but the action excited much discontent in England.

May 20, 1756.

Off Minorca.- Between Admiral Byng's fleet (15 Sail, 892 guns) and the French (17 sail, 956 guns of heavier calibre than the English), under 117. de Galisonniere. The action ended indecisively, through Byng's want of resolution, and the unfortunate admiral was afterwards shot in Portsmouth Harbour, on board the Monarch March 14th, 1757).

April 29, 1755.

Off Negapatam.- Indecisive action between Vice-Admiral Pocock's squadron (seven sail, 404 guns) and the French (seven sail, 380 guns), under the Comte d'Ache.

August 18 and 19, 1759.

Off the Barbary Shore.- Between Admiral Boscawen's fleet (15 sail of the line) and M. de la Clue's (seven sail - eight having parted company). Only eight British ships, however, got up with the enemy, who lost three ships taken, and two destroyed.

September 10, 1759.

Off Ceylon, and the East Indian Coast.- Between Vice-Admiral Pocock (10 sail, 536 guns) and the Comte d'Ache (11 sail, two frigates, 800 guns). Neither party gained an advantage.

November 20, 1759.

Off Belle-Isle.- Between Admiral Sir Edward Hawke (27 line-of-battle ships, and six frigates, carrying abort 1,950 guns), and M. de Confians (20 line-of-battle ships and five frigates, carrying 1,550 guns - but of mach heavier calibre than the English). The French defeated with the loss of five ships.

July 27, 1778.

0ff Brest.- Between Admirals Keppel and Palliser's fleet (30 men-of-war and 6 frigates) and the fleet of the Comte d'Orvillier's (31 men-of-war and 8 frigates). The action had no result, and caused a bitter feeling of discontent at home.

July 6, 1779.

Off Grenada.- Between Vice-Admiral Byron (one 90, eleven 74's, one 70, seven 64's, and a 60) and the Comte d'Estaing (two 80's, twelve 74's, eight 64 s three 50's, and 10 frigates). The French escaped, but lost 1,200 killed and 1,800 wounded, against 183 killed and 346 wounded, on the side of the British.

January 16, 1780.

Off Cape St. Vincent.- Between Admiral Rodney's fleet (21 sail of the line and 9 frigates - of which only nine sail were engaged) and 14 Spanish sail of the line, under Don Langara. Six Spanish ships (one 80, and five 70's) were taken, and one blew up.

April 17, 1780.

Off Martinique.- Between Admiral Rodney (two 90's, eleven 74's; one 70, five 64's, one 60, and six frigates) and the Comte de Guichen (two 80's, eleven 74's, ten 64's, and six frigates and corvettes), but owing to a misunderstanding on the part of Rear Admiral Hyde Parker and others, only a partial engagement took place.

April 29, 1781.

Off Martinique.- Between Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood and the Comte de Grasse. The French had a large superiority of force, but would not come to close quarters. The British lost 36 killed and 161 wounded; the French, 119 killed and 150 wounded.

August 5, 1781.

Off the Dogger Bank.- Between Vice-Admiral Hyde Parker's fleet (seven men-of-war, with 446 guns, and five frigates) and the Dutch (seven men-of-war, with 364 guns, and six frigates), under Rear-Admiral Zoutman. The Dutch lost one ship (which sunk), and, besides her crew, 142 killed and 403 wounded; the English, 109 killed and 362 wounded.

September 5, 1781.

In Lynn Haven Bay, N. America.- Between Rear-Admiral Graves (19 line-of-battle ships, and six frigates, carrying 1,403 guns, and. 11,311 men) and the Comte de Grasse (24 sail of the line, and - frigates, carrying 1,822 guns, and 13,100 men). The action was indecisive.

January 26, 1782.

At St. Christopher's.- The French (31 sail) under Comte de Grasse made three furious but ineffectual attacks on Rear-Admiral Sir S. Hood's fleet (22 sail), lying in the anchorage of Basse-Terre.

February 17, April 12, July 5, September 3, 1782.

Off the Madras Coast,- Four actions between the English (nine sail, 394 guns), under Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Hughes, and the French (11 sail, and three 40-gun frigates, in all-848 guns). The first ended indecisively. The English were then reinforced by a 74 and a 64, and the French by another man-of-war. The second and third actions were in favour of the British. Before the fourth action, the English had been augmented to 12 sail of the line and 4 frigates ; the French had 15 sail of the line. The latter were beaten, but no ships were captured.

April 12, 1782.

Off Martinique.- Between Admiral Rodney (2,640 guns) and the Comte de Grasse (2,560 guns, but of heavy calibre), ending in the total defeat of the French, with the capture of five ships and one sunk. The French lost about 3,000 killed and 5,000 wounded ; the British, 237 killed and 776 wounded. In this action the manoeuvre of "breaking the line " was first definitely performed.

June 20, 1783.

Off Pondicherry,- Another indecisive engagement between Admiral Sir Edward Hughes (18 sail, and 12 frigates) and M. de Suffrein. The English crews were much weakened by scurvy, and not above two-thirds effective.

May 28, 29, 30, 31, and June 1, 1794.

In the Bay of Biscay (lat. 47� 34' N., long. 13� 39' W.).- A series of partial actions terminating in the glorious victory of the 1st of June, and the capture of six French line-of-battle ships. Earl Howe had 26 sail of the line and 7 frigates; the French, the same number, but were superior in guns and men.

March 13 and 14, 1795.

Off the Coast of Genoa.- Between Admiral Hotham's fleet (14 sail of the line, and 5 frigates) and the French (15 sail of the line, and 6 frigates), under Rear-Admiral Martin. A French 80 and 74 were captured.

June 16, 1795.

In the Bay of Biscay.- Vice-Admiral Cornwallis, with five sail of the line, a 100, and four 74's, two frigates (38 and 32 guns) and an 18-gun brig, falls in with the fleet of M. Villaret-Joyeuse (one 120, eleven 74 s, and 11 frigates), and, after a partial engagement, ably effected his escape, without losing a ship, and only 12 men wounded.

June 22, 1795.

Belle-Isle.- Between Lord Bridport (14 line-of-battle ships actually engaged, and 9 frigates) and the fleet of M. Villaret-Joyeuse. Three French ships captured, when Lord Bridport discontinued the action.

July 13, 1795.

Off the Hyeres.- A "miserable action" between Admiral Hotham (23 sail of the line) and the French (17 sail of the line), resulting in the capture of one of the latter.

February 14, 1797.

0ff Cape St. Vincent.- Between Admiral Sir John Jervis (15 sail of the line, and three frigates) and the Spanish (25 sail of the line, and 12 frigates). Four sail of the line were captured.

Judy 25, 1797.

Attack upon Santa Cruz,- by a squadron of three 74's, one 50-gun ship, and three frigates, under Commodore Nelson, - proved unsuccessful owing to insufficiency of force.

October 11, 1797.

Battle of Camperdown.- Between the English (14 line-of-battle ships, two 50's, two frigates and a sloop, carrying, without frigates, 1,150 guns), under Admiral Duncan, and the Dutch (11 line-of-bathe ships, four 50's, and four frigates, carrying, without frigates, 1,034 guns), ending in the capture of eight ships (two 74 s, five 64's, one 50) and two frigates. The British lost 200 killed and 622 wounded=825 ; the Dutch, 540 killed and 620 wounded=1160.

August 1, 1798.

Battle of the Nile.- Between the English (thirteen 74's, and one 50), under Nelson, and the French (one 120, three 80's, nine 74, two frigates of 40 guns each, and two of 36), under Vice-Admiral Brueys. Nine French ships were taken, and three destroyed.

October 12, 1798.

0ff Donegal Bay.- Between Commodore Warren's squadron (8 ships, and 354 guns) and the French (9 ships, and 412 guns, having 3,000 troops on board), under Commodore Bompart. Four French ships captured; and the others - all but two - were taken in endeavouring to reach French ports (October 14, October 18, and October 20).

April 2, 1801.

Bombardment of Copenhagen, by seven 74's, three 64's, two 50's, five frigates, 13 sloops, bombs, and fire-ships, under the immediate orders of Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson, leaving Admiral Sir Hyde Parker at anchor, about 6 miles from Copenhagen, with 8 sail of the line. The attack was completely successful, and the whole Danish fleet taken or destroyed. [Hmmm!]

July 9, 1801.

0ff Cabrita Point.- Between the English (5 line-of-battle, and a frigate), under Rear-Admiral Sir James Saumarez, and the French and Spanish (9 line-of-battle, and three frigates), under Admiral Moreno and M. Linois. Only two British men-of-war and a frigate were engaged. One of the enemy's ships was taken, and two were set on fire.

July 22, 1805.

Off Ferrol.- Between Sir Robert Cinder's fleet (four 98's, one 80, eight 74's, two 64's, and two frigates) and the Franco-Spanish 20 line-of-battle ships, and several frigates), under Admiral Villeneuve and Admiral Gravina. Two of the enemy captured.

October 21, 1805.

Battle of Trafalgar.- Between the British (27 sail of the line, and four frigates,- 2,148 guns), under Nelson, and the French. Spanish (33 sail of the line, and five frigates,- 2,626 guns), under Villeneuve and Gravina. Nineteen men-of-war were captured. (See the "Story of the Victory.") Four more surrendered to a squadron, under Sir Richard Strachan, on the 4th of November.

February 6, 1806.

0ff San Domingo.- Between Vice-Admiral Duckworth's squadron (five 74's, one 80, and one 64) and the French (one 120, one 80, three 74's, and two frigates, under Vice-Admiral Leisseigues.

September 25, 1806.

0ff Rochfort.- An English squadron (a 98, five 74's, and a 16 gun sloop), under Commodore Sir Samuel Hood, attacks a French squadron (four 40-gun, and one 36-gun frigates, and two brigs) and captures the four 40-gun frigates.

February 19, 1807.

Passage of the Dardanelles, by the English fleet (one 100, one 98, two 80's two 74's, one 64, two frigates and two bombs), under Vice-Admiral Sir J. T. Duckworth. A small Turkish squadron was destroyed, and Vice-Admiral Duckworth then retreated.

August 12 to October 21, 1807.

Expedition to Copenhagen.- The fleet, under Admiral Gambier, consisted of 25 sail of the line, 40 frigates, sloops, bombs, &c. The army, under General Lord Cathcart, numbered 27,000 troops. After three days' bombardment, Copenhagen surrendered, and the whole Danish fleet was captured.

April 11 to 14, 1809.

In the Basque Roads.- The English fleet, under Admiral Lord Gambier, consisted of one 120, two 80's, eight 74's, seven frigates, twelve brigs and sloops, and other small vessels. The French fleet in the Roads, under Vice-Admiral Allemande, was moored under the heavy batteries of the Ile d'Aix and consisted of 12 sail of the line, and three frigates. A strong boom, half a mile long, further protected the French. Under the direction of Lord Cochrane, the boom was broken, and fire-ships sent in upon the enemy, who cut or slipped their cables in terror, and drove ashore. Several of the French ships were destroyed, and more might have been effected had the British fleet been better acquainted with the dangerous navigation of the Basque Roads, or had Lord Gambier possessed the daring of a Nelson.

March 13, 1811.

0ff Lissa.- Between four English frigates (152 guns, and 880 men) under Captain Hoste, and a Franco-Venetian squadron (300 guns, and 2,500 men), under Commodore Dubourdieu. Despite the disparity of force Captain Hoste captured two frigates, and drove another ashore, with a loss of only 45 killed and 145 wounded.

August 27, 1816.

Bombardment of Algiers, by Lord Exmouth's fleet.

Battle of Navarino.- Defeat and almost total destruction of the Turkish and Egyptian fleet of nearly 180 [??] sail, by the British, French, and Russians (26 sail), under Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Codrington. "Out of a fleet composed of 81 men-of-war, only one frigate and 15 smaller vessels were in a state ever to be again put to sea."

November 2, 1840.

Bombardment of Acre,- by the British fleet (14 line-of-battle ships, five frigates, three corvettes, &c., &c.), under Admiral Sir Robert Stopford, - second in command, Commodore Charles Napier.

[The naval operations in the Black and Baltic seas during the Russian war were not of sufficient importance to require notice in this Chronological Summary.]

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