1759

Image: RMG/Wikipedia • Believed to be in the Public Domain (Age - Copyright expired)

Admiral Hawke

"Hawke won a battle at sea that for all its courage

and elan was the equal of Trafalgar." - Brian James

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Never was such a bold decision made as that of British admiral Sir Edward Hawke at Quiberon Bay to give chase in a rising gale as night fell. After several setbacks in the Seven Years' War (1756-63) the French had decided to risk all on an invasion of Britain. Hawke chased the French navy into the rock-strewn Quiberon Bay. There he took seven French ships, only two Royal Navy ships were wrecked.

MM

Yet again, an imminent French invasion was crushed.