Battle of Quiberon Bay

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The Battle of Quiberon Bay was a decisive 1759 naval engagement in which the British Royal Navy shattered the French fleet off the coast of Brittany, securing British control of the seas and thwarting a planned invasion of Britain.


Statements (47)
Predicate Object
instanceOf battle
historical event
naval battle
alsoKnownAs Battle of the Quiberon Bay
associatedWith Brest blockade
British naval blockade strategy
belligerent Kingdom of France
Kingdom of Great Britain
campaign Annus Mirabilis of 1759
combatant French Navy
Royal Navy
commander Edward Hawke
Hubert de Brienne, Comte de Conflans
commanderRoleOf Edward Hawke was commander of the British fleet
Hubert de Brienne, Comte de Conflans was commander of the French fleet
conflict Seven Years' War
consequence long-term weakening of French naval power
reinforced British naval supremacy
severe losses for the French fleet
country France
countryOfDefeatedSide Kingdom of France
countryOfVictoriousSide Kingdom of Great Britain
date 20 November 1759
describedAs decisive naval engagement
era Age of Sail
fleetInvolved British Channel Fleet
French Brest fleet
historicalSignificance helped secure British overseas empire
key British naval victory of the Seven Years' War
location Quiberon Bay
off the coast of Brittany
navalTactics aggressive pursuit into coastal waters
close-quarters engagement
navalTheatre Western Approaches
objectiveOfBritain prevent French invasion of Britain
objectiveOfFrance cover an invasion of Britain
partOf Annus Mirabilis (1759) British victories
Seven Years' War
precededBy French attempt to break out from Brest
result British victory
strategicOutcome ended French plans for an invasion of Great Britain
secured British control of the seas
thwarted French invasion of Britain
tacticalCharacteristic fought in stormy weather
fought near a dangerous, shoal-strewn coast
theatre Atlantic Ocean
year 1759


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