7eat51
04-10-2013, 10:40
On the 10th of April 1795, a British squadron, under the command of Rear-Admiral John Colpoys, spotted several ships off of Brest, France. For two hours, the British gave chase, when at noon, they finally were able to identify the ships as French frigates. The Gloire, Gentille, and Fraternité, all 36-gunners, were under the command of Captain Beens who was onboard the Gloire. Beens gave orders to sail west in an attempt to escape the superior British force, but his pursuers closed rapidly. The French captain, recognizing that capture was imminent, separated his squadron, sending the Gentille and Fraternité to the west while taking his ship to northwest. Colpoys responded by directing two ships-of-the-line, HMS Hannibal (74) and HMS Robust (74), to pursue the westward sailing frigates, while the HMS Astraea (32-gun frigate) pursued the Gloire.
At 18:00, the HMS Astraea, under Captain Lord Henry Paulet, came within range of the Gloire and initiated cannon fire. During the next 4 ˝ hours, both frigates exchanged shots as Paulet closed the distance between the two ships. At 22:30, the Astraea came alongside the Gloire, and for close to an hour, the British and French engaged in close-range gunfire. While the British concentrated fire on the hull of the Gloire, the French focused their fire on the Astraea’s rigging and masts. At 23:28, seeing two British ships-of-the-line were closing in on the duel, Captain Beens surrendered. Early the next morning, the HMS Hannibal, under the command of John Markham, captured the frigate Gentille, and joining the HMS Robust, under the command of Captain Edward Thornbrough, unsuccessfully pursued the frigate Fraternité.
John Colpoys:
3435
John Markham:
3436
Edward Thornbrough:
3437
The Duel:
3438
For more information on today's event:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_of_10_April_1795
At 18:00, the HMS Astraea, under Captain Lord Henry Paulet, came within range of the Gloire and initiated cannon fire. During the next 4 ˝ hours, both frigates exchanged shots as Paulet closed the distance between the two ships. At 22:30, the Astraea came alongside the Gloire, and for close to an hour, the British and French engaged in close-range gunfire. While the British concentrated fire on the hull of the Gloire, the French focused their fire on the Astraea’s rigging and masts. At 23:28, seeing two British ships-of-the-line were closing in on the duel, Captain Beens surrendered. Early the next morning, the HMS Hannibal, under the command of John Markham, captured the frigate Gentille, and joining the HMS Robust, under the command of Captain Edward Thornbrough, unsuccessfully pursued the frigate Fraternité.
John Colpoys:
3435
John Markham:
3436
Edward Thornbrough:
3437
The Duel:
3438
For more information on today's event:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_of_10_April_1795