Battle of Martinique (1794)

Coordinates: 14°40′N 61°0′W / 14.667°N 61.000°W / 14.667; -61.000
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Battle of Martinique
Part of the War of the First Coalition

'The Capture of Fort Saint Louis, Martinique, 20 March 1794' painting by William Anderson
Date5 February – 24 March 1794
Location14°40′N 61°0′W / 14.667°N 61.000°W / 14.667; -61.000
Result

British victory

  • Occupation of Martinique until 1802
Belligerents
 Great Britain French Republic
Commanders and leaders
John Jervis
Charles Grey
Donatien-Marie-Joseph de Vimeur  Surrendered
Strength
6,000 men
3 ships of the line
5 Frigates
900 troops or militia
Battle of Martinique (1794) is located in Caribbean
Battle of Martinique (1794)
Location within Caribbean
Battle of Martinique (1794) is located in South America
Battle of Martinique (1794)
Battle of Martinique (1794) (South America)

The Battle of Martinique was a successful British invasion of the French colony of Martinique in the West Indies during the French Revolutionary Wars. They continued to occupy the island until 1802, when the Treaty of Amiens restored it to French control.

Background

Prior to the invasion,

Whitehall Accord on 9 February with counter-revolutionary French planters, which allowed them to keep their chattel property.[citation needed
]

Invasion

On 5 February, a British fleet under the command of Royal Navy Admiral Sir John Jervis landed troops under the command of Sir Charles Grey on the island, which proceeded to capture the island from the Republicans in concert with French planters.[1]

By 20 March, only Fort Bourbon and

Richard Faulknor. Despite facing heavy Republican artillery fire, Faulknor ran Zebra close under the walls. He and his ship's company then used Zebra's boats to land. The British stormed the fort and captured it. Zebra lost only her pilot killed and four men wounded. Meanwhile, the remainder of the British fleet captured Fort Royal and two days later Fort Bourbon capitulated.[1]

Aftermath

The Governor General of Martinique at the time, Donatien-Marie-Joseph de Vimeur, surrendered to Grey. The British then occupied Martinique until the Treaty of Amiens returned the island to the French in 1802.[citation needed]

Citations

  1. ^ a b "No. 13643". The London Gazette. 22 April 1794. pp. 353–359.
  2. ^ James (1837), Vol. 1, p. 218

References