Battle of Minorca (1756) explained

Conflict:Battle of Minorca
Partof:the Seven Years' War
Date:20 May 1756
Place:Mediterranean Sea, near Minorca, present-day Spain
Result:French victory[1] [2]
Commander1:Marquis de la Galissonnière
Commander2:John Byng
Strength1:12 ships of the line
5 frigates
Strength2:12 ships of the line
7 frigates
Casualties1:38 killed
184 wounded
Casualties2:Half the fleet damaged
45 killed
162 wounded

The Battle of Minorca (20 May 1756) was a naval battle between French and British fleets. It was the opening sea battle of the Seven Years' War in the European theatre. Shortly after the war began British and French squadrons met off the Mediterranean island of Minorca. The French won the battle. The subsequent decision by the British to withdraw to Gibraltar handed France a strategic victory and led directly to the Fall of Minorca.

The British failure to save Minorca led to the controversial court-martial and execution of the British commander, Admiral John Byng, for "failure to do his utmost" to relieve the siege of the British garrison on Minorca.[3]

Background

The French had been menacing the British-held garrison on Minorca, which had come under British control during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1708. Great Britain and France had commenced hostilities in the New World colonies earlier in 1754 (the French and Indian War), and at this point the conflict was not going well for Great Britain. The government was anxious to protect her presence closer to home, and was concerned that the French might even be planning to invade Great Britain itself (as France had attempted in previous wars by supporting the Stuart claimants to the throne during the Jacobite Wars).

The long-expected French move on Minorca finally caused the British government to act, albeit belatedly, and a squadron of 10 ships of the line was dispatched from Gibraltar to its defence, under the command of John Byng (then a Vice-Admiral, but quickly promoted to Admiral for the purpose). Despite having considerable intelligence of the strength of the French fleet at Toulon that was designated for the invasion of Minorca, the ships allocated to Byng were all in a poor state of repair and undermanned.

Prelude

When Byng and his fleet, now numbering 13 ships of the line (having been reinforced by ships of the Minorca squadron that had escaped the island), arrived off Minorca on 19 May, they found the island already overrun by French troops, with only the garrison of St. Philip's Castle in Port Mahon holding out. Byng's orders were to relieve the garrison, but a French squadron of 12 ships of the line and 5 frigates intervened as the afternoon wore on. The two fleets positioned themselves, and battle was drawn up on the morning of the following day.

Battle

Facing 12 French ships of the line, Byng formed his 12 largest ships into a single line of battle and approached the head of the French line on a parallel course while maintaining the weather gage. He then ordered his ships to go about and come alongside their opposite numbers in the French fleet. However, the poor signalling capability of the times caused confusion and delay in closing. The British van took a considerable pounding from their more heavily armed French adversaries, while the rear of the line, including Byng's flagship, failed to come within effective cannon range. During the battle Byng displayed considerable caution and an over-reliance on standard fighting procedures, and several of his ships were seriously damaged, while no ships were lost by the French. Following a Council of War, at which all the senior officers present concurred, it was agreed the fleet stood no chance of further damaging the French ships or of relieving the garrison. Byng therefore gave orders to return to Gibraltar.

Aftermath

The battle could hardly be considered anything other than a French victory in the light of Byng failing to press on to relieve the garrison or pursue the French fleet which inaction resulted in severe criticism. The Admiralty, perhaps concerned to divert attention from its own lack of preparation for the disastrous venture, charged him for breaching the Articles of War by failing to do all he could to fulfill his orders and support the garrison; he was court-martialled, found guilty and sentenced to death, and – despite pleas for clemency – executed on 14 March 1757 aboard in Portsmouth harbour.

Byng's execution is referred to in Voltaire's novel Candide with the line Dans ce pays-ci, il est bon de tuer de temps en temps un amiral pour encourager les autres – "In this country, it is thought wise to kill an admiral from time to time to encourage the others."[4]

Despite William Pitt's eagerness to regain the island, a British expedition was not sent to recapture it for the remainder of the war. It was eventually returned to Britain following the Treaty of Paris, in exchange for the French West Indies and Belle-Île.

Order of battle

In order of their place in the line of battle:

British fleet

British fleet
width=15%; align= center rowspan=2 Ship width=10%; align= center rowspan=2 Rate width=5%; align= center rowspan=2 Guns width=25%; align= center rowspan=2 Commander width=15%; align= center colspan=3 Casualtieswidth=30%; align= center rowspan=2 Notes
width=5%; align= center Killed width=5%; align= center Wounded width=5%; align= center Total
align= left Defiancealign= center Third ratealign= center 60align= left Captain Thomas Andrewsalign= right 14align= right 45align= right 59align= left
align= left Portlandalign= center Fourth ratealign= center 50align= left Captain Patrick Bairdalign= right 6align= right 20align= right 26align= left
align= left Lancasteralign= center Third ratealign= center 66align= left Captain George Edgcumbealign= right 1align= right 14align= right 15align= left
align= left Buckinghamalign= center Third ratealign= center 68align= left Rear-Admiral Temple West
Captain Michael Everitt		align= right 3align= right 7align= right 10align= left
align= left Captainalign= center Third ratealign= center 64align= left Captain Charles Catfordalign= right 6align= right 30align= right 36align= left
align= left Intrepidalign= center Third ratealign= center 64align= left Captain James Youngalign= right 9align= right 39align= right 48align= left
align= left Revengealign= center Third ratealign= center 64align= left Captain Frederick Cornewallalign= right 0align= right 0align= right 0align= left
align= left Princess Louisaalign= center Third ratealign= center 60align= left Captain Thomas Noelalign= right 3align= right 13align= right 16align= left
align= left Tridentalign= center Third ratealign= center 64align= left Captain Philip Durellalign= right 0align= right 0align= right 0align= left
align= left Ramilliesalign= center Second ratealign= center 90align= left Admiral John Byng
Captain Arthur Gardiner		align= right 0align= right 0align= right 0align= left
align= left Cullodenalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Henry Wardalign= right 0align= right 0align= right 0align= left
align= left Kingstonalign= center Third ratealign= center 60align= left Captain William Parryalign= right 0align= right 0align= right 0align= left
align= left Deptfordalign= center Fourth ratealign= center 50align= left Captain John Amherstalign= right 0align= right 0align= right 0align= left
align=right colspan=4 Casualty summaryalign= right 42align= right 168align= right 210align= right

Attached frigates

ShipGunsCaptainRate
40 Fifth-rate frigate
20 Captain James Gilchrist Sixth-rate frigate
20 Sixth-rate frigate
20 Sixth-rate frigate
14 Commander Jervis Maplesden Unrated brig-sloop

French fleet

French fleet
width=15%; align= center rowspan=2 Ship width=10%; align= center rowspan=2 Rate width=5%; align= center rowspan=2 Guns width=25%; align= center rowspan=2 Commander width=15%; align= center colspan=3 Casualtieswidth=30%; align= center rowspan=2 Notes
width=5%; align= center Killed width=5%; align= center Wounded width=5%; align= center Total
align= left Orphéealign= center align= center 64align= left Pierre-Antoine de Raymondis d'Éouxalign= right 10align= right 9align= right 19align= left
align= left Hippopotamealign= center align= center 50align= left Henri de Rochemorealign= right 2align= right 10align= right 12align= left
align= left Redoutablealign= center align= center 74align= left Chef d'Escadre Pierre-André de Glandevès du Castelletalign= right 12align= right 39align= right 51align= left
align= left Sagealign= center align= center 64align= left Captain Duruenalign= right 0align= right 8align= right 8align= left
align= left Guerrieralign= center align= center 74align= left René Villars de la Brosse-Raquinalign= right 0align= right 43align= right 43align= left
align= left Fieralign= center align= center 50align= left Captain d'Ervillealign= right 0align= right 4align= right 4align= left
align= left Foudroyantalign= center align= center 84align= left Lieutenant général Roland-Michel Barrin de La Galissonièrealign= right 2align= right 10align= right 12align= left
align= left Témérairealign= center align= center 74align= left Captain Beaumontalign= right 0align= right 15align= right 15align= left
align= left Contentalign= center align= center 64align= left Joseph de Sabranalign= right 5align= right 19align= right 24align= left
align= left Lionalign= center align= center 64align= left Paul-Hippolyte de Beauvilliers-Saint-Aignanalign= right 2align= right 7align= right 9align= left
align= left Couronnealign= center align= center 74align= left Chef d'Escadre Jean-François de La Clue-Sabranalign= right 0align= right 3align= right 3align= left
align= left Tritonalign= center align= center 64align= left Captain Mercieralign= right 5align= right 14align= right 19align= left
align=right colspan=4 Casualty summaryalign= right 38align= right 181align= right 219align= right

Attached frigates

ShipGunsCaptain
46 Captain Beausfier
26 Captain Costebelle
26 Captain Marquizan
24 Captain Carne
26 Captain Callian

See also

References

  1. Dull, pp. 52–54.
  2. Lambert, p. 143.
  3. McGuffie, 1951.
  4. Hamley, p. 177.

Bibliography

39.89°N 4.35°W

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