French capture of the Turks and Caicos Islands
Encyclopedia
The French Capture of the Turks and Caicos Islands occurred on 12 February 1783 during the American War of Independence. France
took a further shot conquering the entire archipelago, islets of rich salt works, seizing Grand Turk. The British
responded by deploying 28-gun frigate HMS Albermarle
with a force of one hundred men under the command of Caption Horatio Nelson
. Although the mission failed, the islands were shortly restored to Britain in the second Treaty of Paris
that formally concluded the war.
) arrived at Grand Turk Island
. Disembarking about 400 men drawn from four regiments under the command of M. de Coujolles, the French took control of the island without resistance.
, Dixon's sloop Drake, and one other ship, arriving by 7 March. After sending an officer with a surrender demand, which was refused, Nelson bombed the island and sent Dixon to disembark with 167 sailors and marines early the next morning. For a time the attempt appeared successful, but soon the comparative strength of the forces was discovered, and the small party were wisely withdrawn from a contest they thought to be against nearly 2,000 men. The French defenders repulsed the assault wounding eight Englishmen and obliging Nelson to reembark by 9 of March.
The Turks and Caicos islands were returned to British control under the terms of Treaty of Paris
, which was formally ratified later in 1783.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
took a further shot conquering the entire archipelago, islets of rich salt works, seizing Grand Turk. The British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
responded by deploying 28-gun frigate HMS Albermarle
HMS Albemarle (1779)
HMS Albemarle was a 28-gun sixth rate frigate of the Royal Navy. She had been built as the French merchantman Ménagère and was subsequently purchased for service in the French Navy...
with a force of one hundred men under the command of Caption Horatio Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB was a flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. He was noted for his inspirational leadership and superb grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics, which resulted in a number of...
. Although the mission failed, the islands were shortly restored to Britain in the second Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris (1783)
The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain on the one hand and the United States of America and its allies on the other. The other combatant nations, France, Spain and the Dutch Republic had separate agreements; for details of...
that formally concluded the war.
French capture
On 12 February 1783, a three-ship flotilla under the command of the Marquis de Grasse-Briançon (nephew to Admiral Comte de GrasseFrançois Joseph Paul de Grasse
Lieutenant Général des Armées Navales François-Joseph Paul, marquis de Grasse Tilly, comte de Grasse was a French admiral. He is best known for his command of the French fleet at the Battle of the Chesapeake, which led directly to the British surrender at Yorktown...
) arrived at Grand Turk Island
Grand Turk Island
Grand Turk Island is an island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is the largest island in the Turks Islands with . It contains the territory's capital, Cockburn Town and the JAGS McCartney International Airport...
. Disembarking about 400 men drawn from four regiments under the command of M. de Coujolles, the French took control of the island without resistance.
Counterattack
De Grasse's flotilla later encountered a small British fleet, and was captured. From the prisoners of La Coquette, Royal Navy Captain James King on HMS Resistance learned that the French had recently occupied the Turks, so he informed Horatio Nelson. Nelson sailed to that objective with his frigate HMS AlbemarleHMS Albemarle
Five ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Albemarle after George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle ....
, Dixon's sloop Drake, and one other ship, arriving by 7 March. After sending an officer with a surrender demand, which was refused, Nelson bombed the island and sent Dixon to disembark with 167 sailors and marines early the next morning. For a time the attempt appeared successful, but soon the comparative strength of the forces was discovered, and the small party were wisely withdrawn from a contest they thought to be against nearly 2,000 men. The French defenders repulsed the assault wounding eight Englishmen and obliging Nelson to reembark by 9 of March.
The Turks and Caicos islands were returned to British control under the terms of Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris (1783)
The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain on the one hand and the United States of America and its allies on the other. The other combatant nations, France, Spain and the Dutch Republic had separate agreements; for details of...
, which was formally ratified later in 1783.