French Invasion of Honolulu
Encyclopedia
The French Invasion of Honolulu (also known as the Sacking of Honolulu, or the Tromelin Affair) was an attack on Honolulu by Louis Tromelin
for the persecution of Catholics and repression on French trade.
arrived in Honolulu Harbor
on the corvette
Gassendi with the frigate La Poursuivante. De Tromelin on his stay in Honolulu found out the pasted persecution of Catholics and high tariffs on French brandy from French Consult William Patrice Dillon sent to Hawaii to oversee French interests. De Tromelin angered by these issues of the ABCFM missionaries’ intentions to shut out Catholicism
and French trade, he made ten demands to King Kamehameha III
on August 22.
, two field pieces, and scaling ladders
were landed by boat. The marines overwhelmed and captured Honolulu Fort from the two men at the fort, Governor of Oahu Mataio Kekuanaoa
and Marshal of the Kingdom Warren Goodale, who did not resist, the fort having been evacuated before the French landed. The marines spiked the coastal guns, threw kegs of powder into the harbor and destroyed all the other weapons they found (mainly muskets and ammunition). They raided government buildings and general property in Honolulu, causing $100,000 in damages. They also took the king's yacht, Kamehameha III, which was sailed to Tahiti
and never returned. After these raids, the invasion force withdrew to the fort. During the occupation, men in Honolulu ridiculed the French, and on August 30 they organized a mock attack party making the marines double their guard and send skirmishing patrols out late into night, encountering no attackers. De Tromelin eventually recalled his men and left Hawaii on September 5.
led a party to inquire and settle the incident leaving for Paris
on September 11. Along the way Judd requested support from the United States
and Great Britain
, the latter accepting for his case against Tromelin. At first the French government condemned the attack on Honolulu but with the account of Tromelin and Dillon who left with Tromelin on September 5, the French government reconsidered the incident as more justified and did not make reparation for the damages.
Louis Tromelin
Louis-François-Marie-Nicolas Le Goarant de Tromelin was a nineteenth-century French Naval captain, sent to the Pacific Ocean on political and military missions, and credited with the discovery of Phoenix Island in the Phoenix group and Fais Island in the Carolines...
for the persecution of Catholics and repression on French trade.
Prelude
On August 12, 1849, French admiral Louis TromelinLouis Tromelin
Louis-François-Marie-Nicolas Le Goarant de Tromelin was a nineteenth-century French Naval captain, sent to the Pacific Ocean on political and military missions, and credited with the discovery of Phoenix Island in the Phoenix group and Fais Island in the Carolines...
arrived in Honolulu Harbor
Honolulu Harbor
Honolulu Harbor, also called Kulolia and Ke Awa O Kou, is the principal seaport of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii in the United States. It is from Honolulu Harbor, located on Mamala Bay, that the City & County of Honolulu was developed and urbanized, in an outward fashion, over the course of the...
on the corvette
Corvette
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...
Gassendi with the frigate La Poursuivante. De Tromelin on his stay in Honolulu found out the pasted persecution of Catholics and high tariffs on French brandy from French Consult William Patrice Dillon sent to Hawaii to oversee French interests. De Tromelin angered by these issues of the ABCFM missionaries’ intentions to shut out Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
and French trade, he made ten demands to King Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III was the King of Hawaii from 1825 to 1854. His full Hawaiian name was Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa and then lengthened to Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa Kalani Waiakua Kalanikau Iokikilo Kiwalao i ke kapu Kamehameha when he ascended the throne.Under his...
on August 22.
- The complete and loyal adoption of the treaty of March 26th 1846.
- The reduction of the duty on French brandy to fifty per cent ad valorem.
- The subjection of Catholic schools to the direction of the chief of the French Mission and to special inspectors not Protestants and a treatment rigorously equal granted to the two worships and to their schools.
- The use of the French language in all business intercourse between French citizens and the Hawaiian Government.
- The withdrawal of the alleged exception by which French whalers which imported wine and spirits were affected and the abrogation of a regulation which obliged vessels laden with liquors to pay the custom house officers placed on board to superintend their loading and unloading.
- The return of all duties collected by virtue of the regulation the withdrawal of which was demanded by the fifth article.
- The return of a fine of twenty five dollars paid by the whale ship General Teste besides an indemnity of sixty dollars for the time that she was detained in port.
- The punishment of certain school boys whose impious conduct in church had occasioned complaint.
- The removal of the governor of Hawaii for allowing the domicile of a priest to be violated by police officers who entered it to make an arrest or the order that the governor make reparation to that missionary.
- The payment to a French hotel keeper of the damages committed in his house by sailors from HBM s ship Amphitrite.
Sacking of Honolulu
On August 25 the demands had not been met. After a second warning to the civilians of the impending invasion, 140 French MarinesTroupes de marine
The or Infanterie de marine, formerly Troupes coloniales, are an arm of the French Army with a colonial heritage. The Troupes de marine have a dedicated overseas service role. Despite their title they have been a part of the Army since 1958...
, two field pieces, and scaling ladders
Escalade
Escalade is the act of scaling defensive walls or ramparts with the aid of ladders, and was a prominent feature of siege warfare in medieval times...
were landed by boat. The marines overwhelmed and captured Honolulu Fort from the two men at the fort, Governor of Oahu Mataio Kekuanaoa
Mataio Kekuanaoa
Mataio Kekūanāoa was descended from the high chiefs of the island of Oahu. His name Mataio was the Hawaiian form of Matthew, although the former remain the most common form used to referred to him....
and Marshal of the Kingdom Warren Goodale, who did not resist, the fort having been evacuated before the French landed. The marines spiked the coastal guns, threw kegs of powder into the harbor and destroyed all the other weapons they found (mainly muskets and ammunition). They raided government buildings and general property in Honolulu, causing $100,000 in damages. They also took the king's yacht, Kamehameha III, which was sailed to Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
and never returned. After these raids, the invasion force withdrew to the fort. During the occupation, men in Honolulu ridiculed the French, and on August 30 they organized a mock attack party making the marines double their guard and send skirmishing patrols out late into night, encountering no attackers. De Tromelin eventually recalled his men and left Hawaii on September 5.
Aftermath
Gerrit P. JuddGerrit P. Judd
Gerrit Parmele Judd was an American physician and missionary to the Kingdom of Hawaii who later became a trusted advisor and cabinet minister to King Kamehameha III.- Life :...
led a party to inquire and settle the incident leaving for Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on September 11. Along the way Judd requested support from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Great Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the latter accepting for his case against Tromelin. At first the French government condemned the attack on Honolulu but with the account of Tromelin and Dillon who left with Tromelin on September 5, the French government reconsidered the incident as more justified and did not make reparation for the damages.