‘Glorious First of June’

Naval battle between the British and French fleets off Ushant 1 June 1794; the first major naval action of the French Revolutionary Wars. Both sides claimed a victory; the British because they had damaged the French fleet and there was no major naval action for the next two years; the French because their fleet, damaged as it was, was not destroyed, and the British failed to prevent a vital grain convoy reaching France.

The French harvest had failed following the revolution and France faced starvation. The British were blockading the French coast and a convoy of 116 ships of grain from the USA had to be escorted to safety in French harbours. Admiral Richard Howe was sent out with the British fleet to intercept the French, and came up with the main French fleet 28 May. After a few minor skirmishes, the two fleets cleared for action 1 June; Howe's plan was to attack the enemy in line, then break through the French line, prevent their retreat, and fight to a finish on their lee side. Due to vagaries of wind and current, this could not be executed as precisely as Howe would have wished, but the plan was generally followed, and the battle became a matter of pairs of ships hammering at each other until one was vanquished. The British captured six French ships and sank one before the action ended.