Battle of the Saintes
Off Dominica, Caribbean Sea
What happened
Admiral Sir George Rodney, with Sir Samuel Hood, led the British fleet against the French fleet of the Comte de Grasse. After helping win at Yorktown, France and Spain planned to invade Jamaica, Britain's richest colony in the Caribbean. Rodney's fleet caught de Grasse's fleet in the waters between Dominica and Guadeloupe, near the islands called the Saintes. When the wind shifted, Rodney's flagship sailed through a gap in the French line of ships, breaking it apart, and the French fleet was defeated.
Why it matters
Result: British victory. Leaders: Sir George Rodney / Francis Samuel Drake against Comte de Grasse / Louis de Bougainville. Why it matters: The victory saved Jamaica from invasion. It also strengthened Britain's hand in the peace talks that ended the American Revolutionary War.
What came next
De Grasse was taken prisoner, and four French ships of the line were captured, including his flagship, the Ville de Paris.
Did you know?
Rodney is credited with pioneering the tactic of 'breaking the line' in this battle, though historians dispute it.
Timeline
- October 1781De Grasse's fleet helps win the Yorktown campaign.
- 9-12 April 1782Rodney defeats de Grasse at the Battle of the Saintes.