View source for Battle of the Saintes

{{Short description|Naval Battle of American Revolutionary War (1782)}}
{{distinguish|Battle of Saintes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict    = Battle of the Saintes
|partof      = the [[American Revolutionary War]]{{sfn|Allison|Ferreiro|2018|page=220|ps=: This reversal had a significant effect on peace negotiations to end the American revolution which were already underway and would lead to an agreement by the end of the year.}}
|image       = The battle of the Saints 12 avril 1782.jpg
|caption     = ''The Battle of the Saintes, 12 April 1782: surrender of the Ville de Paris'' <br /> [[Thomas Whitcombe]], 1783
|date        = 9–12 April 1782
|place       = Off [[Dominica]], [[Caribbean Sea]]
|coordinates = {{coord|15|47|N|61|36|W|region:GP_type:isle_source:kolossus-ruwiki|display=inline,title}}
|result      = British victory{{sfn|Black|1999|p=141}}{{sfn|Greene|2005|p=xvii|ps=: But the British Navy emerged from the siege of Yorktown intact, allowing Admiral Sir George Bridges Rodney to score a decisive victory over de Grasse in the Battle of the Saintes.}}
|combatant1  = [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]]
|combatant2  = [[Kingdom of France|France]]
|commander1  = [[George Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney|Sir George Rodney]] <br /> [[Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood|Sir Samuel Hood]]
|commander2  = [[François Joseph Paul de Grasse|Comte de Grasse]]{{Surrendered}} <br /> [[Louis Antoine de Bougainville|Louis de Bougainville]]
|strength1   = 36 ships of the line
|strength2   = 30 ships of the line{{sfn|Tucker|2011|p=257}}
|casualties1 = 243 killed <br /> 816 wounded{{sfn|Valin|2009|p=58}}
|casualties2 = 3,000 killed or wounded <br /> 5,000 captured <br /> 4 ships of the line captured <br /> 1 ship of the line destroyed{{sfn|Gardiner|1996|pp=123–27}}{{sfn|Valin|2009|p=58}}
| campaignbox ={{Campaignbox American War of Independence: West Indies}}
}}

The '''Battle of the Saintes''' (known to the French as the '''Bataille de la Dominique'''), also known as the '''Battle of Dominica''', was an important naval battle in the Caribbean between the British and the French that took place 9–12 April 1782. The British victory was considered their greatest over the French during the [[American Revolutionary War]].{{sfn|Tucker|2018|p=1323}}{{sfn|Jaques|2007|p=885}} The British fleet under Admiral Sir [[George Rodney]] defeated a French fleet under the [[Comte de Grasse]], forcing the French and Spanish to abandon a planned invasion of [[Colony of Jamaica|Jamaica]].{{sfn|O'Shaughnessy|2013|p=314}}

The battle is named after the [[Îles des Saintes]], a group of small islands between [[Guadeloupe]] and [[Dominica]] in the [[West Indies]]. The French had blockaded the [[British Army during the American War of Independence|British Army]] at Chesapeake Bay the year before, during the [[Siege of Yorktown]], and supported the eventual American victory in their revolution. This battle, however, halted their momentum and had a significant effect on [[Peace of Paris (1783)|peace negotiations]] to end the war.{{sfn|Allison|Ferreiro|2018|page=220|ps=: This reversal had a significant effect on peace negotiations to end the American revolution which were already underway and would lead to an agreement by the end of the year.}}

The French suffered heavy casualties at the Saintes and many were taken prisoner, including de Grasse. Four French [[ships of the line]] were captured (including the [[flagship]]) and one was destroyed. Rodney was credited with pioneering the tactic of "[[Naval tactics in the Age of Sail|breaking the line]]" in the battle, though this is disputed.{{sfn|O'Shaughnessy|2013|p=314}}{{sfn|Valin|2009|pp=67–68}}

==Background==
In October 1781 Admiral Comte de Grasse, commander of the French fleet in the West Indies; [[Francisco Saavedra de Sangronis]], General Bureau for the Spanish Indies; and [[Bernardo de Gálvez]], court representative and aide to the Spanish [[Governor of Louisiana]], developed a plan against British forces. The strategic objectives of the Franco-Spanish military forces in the West Indies in this plan were:
* to aid the Americans and defeat the British naval squadron at New York
* to capture the British [[Windward Islands]] and
* to conquer Jamaica.{{sfn|Dull|1975|p=244}}

This plan became known as the "De Grasse–Saavedra Convention." The first objective had been essentially met by the surrender of the British army under [[Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis|General Cornwallis]] at the Siege of Yorktown in September 1781. De Grasse and his fleet had [[Battle of the Chesapeake|played a decisive part]] in that victory, after which they returned to the Caribbean. On arrival in [[Saint-Domingue]] in November 1781, the admiral was notified to proceed with a plan for the conquest of Jamaica.{{sfn|Dull|1975|pp=248–49}}

Jamaica was the largest and most profitable British island in the Caribbean, mainly because of sugar: it was more valuable to the British economy than all of the 13 American colonies. [[King George III]] wrote to [[John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich|Lord Sandwich]], saying that he would protect Britain's important Caribbean islands at the risk of Britain herself, and this was the strategy implemented in 1779.{{sfn|O'Shaughnessy|2013|p=208}} Sugar made up 20% of all British imports and was worth five times as much as tobacco.{{sfn|Rogoziński|1999|p=115}} The French and Spanish were fighting to take over Jamaica in order to expel the British from the West Indies, and to strike a massive blow against the British economy.{{sfn|Trew|2006|pp=154–55}} The courts at Paris and Madrid perceived the invasion of Jamaica as an alternative to the [[Great Siege of Gibraltar|Spanish and French attempts to take Gibraltar]], which for two years had been a costly disaster.{{sfn|Dull|1975|p=282}}

Whilst de Grasse waited for reinforcements to undertake the Jamaica campaign, he [[Siege of Brimstone Hill|captured St. Kitts]] in February 1782. The rest of the Windward Islands—[[Antigua]], [[St Lucia|St. Lucia]], and [[Barbados]]—still remained under British control. Admiral George Rodney arrived in the Caribbean theatre the following month, bringing reinforcements. These included 17 ships of the line and gave the British a slight numerical advantage.{{sfn|Trew|2006|pp=157–62}}

On 7 April 1782, de Grasse set out from [[Martinique]] with 35 ships of the line, including two 50-gun ships and a large convoy of more than 100 cargo ships, to meet with a Spanish fleet of 12 ships of the line. In addition de Grasse was to rendezvous with 15,000 troops at Saint Domingue, who were earmarked for the conquest and intended to land on Jamaica's north coast.{{sfn|Trew|2006|pp=157–62}} Rodney, on learning of this, sailed from St. Lucia in pursuit with 36 ships of the line the following day.{{sfn|Mahan|2020|pp=205–26}}

The British ships' [[Hull (watercraft)|hulls]] by this time had been given [[copper sheathing]] to protect them from [[barnacle|marine growth]], [[biofouling|fouling]], and saltwater corrosion, dramatically improving speed and overall sailing performance in good wind.{{sfn|Lavery|2009|pp=144–45}}

===Opposing fleets and officers===
[[File:Plan of the early ship movements leading to the Battle of the Saintes April 1782.jpg|thumb|280px|Plan of the early ship movements leading to the Battle of the Saintes in April 1782]]
The British flagship was [[HMS Formidable (1777)|HMS ''Formidable'']] under Admiral Rodney. Second in command was [[Sir Samuel Hood, 1st Baronet|Admiral Samuel Hood]], and third was Vice Admiral [[Francis Samuel Drake]]. As was the convention of the day, the fleet was split into three sections: Rodney had individual control as [[Admiral of the White]] of 12 ships flying the [[White Ensign]]; Drake had command of 12 ships as [[Admiral of the Blue]] flying the [[Blue Ensign]]; and Hood was [[Admiral of the Red]] with 12 ships flying the [[Red Ensign]].{{sfn|Fraser|1904|p=102}}

''Formidable'' was accompanied by three 98-gun ships: [[HMS Barfleur (1768)|HMS ''Barfleur'']] (commanded by Hood), [[HMS Prince George (1772)|HMS ''Prince George'']], and [[HMS Duke (1777)|HMS ''Duke'']], plus the 90-gun [[HMS Namur (1756)|HMS ''Namur'']]. The remaining 31 ships were equipped with 64 to 74 guns. In total the British fleet had 2,620 guns compared to the French total of 2,526. Most of the British fleet was equipped with [[carronade]]s on the upper decks, which had a major advantage in flexibility and were a great advantage at close quarters.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|p=102}}

In March 1782 ''Formidable'' was stationed at Gros Islet Bay between the island of St. Lucia and [[Pigeon Island (Saint Lucia)|Pigeon Island]]. She was under the command of Admiral Rodney, serving as his flagship at the head of 36 ships of the line. Meanwhile, French Admiral de Grasse headed 34 ships of the line at Fort Royal Bay in Martinique. Rodney had been dispatched from Britain with 12 well-fitted ships to rescue the West Indies from a series of attacks from the French, which had already resulted in the loss of several islands. They joined 24 ships on St. Lucia who had already seen action against the French and were undergoing repairs.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|p=102}}

The French had allies in the Spanish, who had 13 ships of the line at [[Cap-Haïtien|Cap‑Français]] on the island of San Domingo (Hispaniola). Together with transport ships, the Spanish had a considerable force of 24,000 men. They awaited the arrival of a further 10,000 French troops dispatched from [[Brest, France|Brest]], under escort of five men-of-war, to further boost their strength. The plan was for Grasse's fleet, with at least 5,000 further troops, to unite with the Spanish at Cap‑Français, and from there to attack and capture the island of Jamaica with their conjoined armada of some 60 ships and 40,000 troops.

Rodney had been in communication with de Grasse during March, organising the exchange of prisoners, who were conveyed by [[HMS Alert (1779)|HMS ''Alert'']] under Captain Vashon. The two officers had much mutual respect. Rodney's task was to intercept the French fleet en route to Cap‑Français.

Grasse's vice admiral at the time was [[Louis-Philippe de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil]]. Third in command was [[Louis Antoine de Bougainville]]. The French flagship was the huge 104-gun [[French ship Ville de Paris (1764)|''Ville de Paris'']]. The troops were under the command of the [[Marquis de Bouillé]]. The French fleet was also split into three squadrons: Grasse led the "Cornette Blanche;" Bougainville led the "Escadre Bleue;" and Vaudreuil as a second-in-command flew the mixed white and blue colours of the "Blanche et Bleue."{{sfn|Fraser|1904|p=102}}

Other British commanders included Captain [[Lord Robert Manners (Royal Navy officer)|Lord Robert Manners]] of [[HMS Resolution (1770)|HMS ''Resolution'']], Admiral [[William Cornwallis]] in command of [[HMS Canada (1765)|HMS ''Canada'']], and [[HMS Monarch (1765)|HMS ''Monarch'']] under the command of Captain [[Francis Reynolds-Moreton, 3rd Baron Ducie|Francis Reynolds]]. Other aristocrats present included Captain [[James Cranstoun, 8th Lord Cranstoun|Lord Cranstoun]], a supernumerary onboard ''Formidable''. Sir Charles Douglas, a nephew of [[Charles Douglas, 3rd Duke of Queensberry]], was [[Captain of the Fleet]]. [[James Wallace (Royal Navy officer)|Sir James Wallace]] was also present. Other commanders included Captains Blair, Buckner, Burnett, Charrington, Cornish, Dumaresq, Graves, Inglefield, Inglis, Knight, Parry, Saumarez, Savage, Symons, Truscott, Wilkinson, Williams, and Wilson.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|p=72}} [[Frederick Thesiger (naval officer)|Frederick Thesiger]], Acting Lieutenant on board [[HMS Formidable (1777)|''Formidable'']], was appointed as Rodney's [[aide-de-camp]] shortly before the battle.<ref>[[Edward Irving Carlyle]], [https://en.m.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography,_1885-1900/Thesiger,_Frederick_(d.1805) "Thesiger, Frederick (d. 1805)"] in ''[[Dictionary of National Biography]]'', Vol. 56 (1898) at [[WikiSource]]</ref>

A lookout squadron, a line of [[frigate]]s headed by Captain George Anson Byron on [[HMS Andromache (1781)|HMS ''Andromache'']], reported all of de Grasse's movements at Fort Royal. This squadron included the speedy [[HMS Agamemnon (1781)|HMS ''Agamemnon'']] and [[HMS Magnificent (1766)|HMS ''Magnificent'']].{{sfn|Fraser|1904|p=79}}

===Pre-battle movements===
{| style="float: right; margin-right: 1em"
|-
! style="background:#b0c4de;"|Naval Commanders
|-
|<gallery>
File:Franecois joseph paul comte d115883.jpg|{{center|<br />[[Comte de Grasse]]}}
File:Mosnier, George Rodney.jpg|{{center|<br />[[George Rodney]]}}
</gallery>
|}

On 3 April it was signalled that the repairs on the French fleet were complete. On 5 April it was reported that the French troops were boarding the ships. At 8:00&nbsp;am on Sunday 8 April, it was reported that the French fleet were leaving Fort Royal. Rodney's fleet called all men to join their ships and they began leaving Gros Islet Bay at 10:30&nbsp;am.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|pp=80–81}}

The total French armada comprised 35 ships of the line, 10 frigates, and over 100 smaller ships. The smaller ships moved in advance of the men-of-war, heading for [[St. Pierre, Martinique|St. Pierre]].{{sfn|Fraser|1904|pp=80–81}}

Just past 4:00&nbsp;pm Hood's ''Barfleur'', at the head of the British fleet, espied five sails ahead that she presumed to be part of the French fleet. These came into view of ''Formidable'' around two hours later, just before sunset. They pursued the French through the night. At 2:00&nbsp;am on 9 April, [[HMS St Albans (1764)|HMS ''St Albans'']] dropped alongside ''Formidable'', reporting that along with [[HMS Valiant (1759)|HMS ''Valiant'']], she had located the French fleet in the darkness. Rodney rested for the remainder of the night.

The sun rose at 5:30&nbsp;am. The French fleet extended from six to 12 miles distant, navigating the waters between Dominica and Guadeloupe. The majority of the warships lay off [[Prince Rupert's Bay]].

Due to a [[dead calm]] from 3:00 until 7:00&nbsp;am, neither fleet could move. The initial wind only reached ''Barfleur'' and its eight support ships, causing them to detach ahead of the main fleet, which lay in the [[Lee side|lee]] of Dominica. De Grasse saw the opportunity to cripple this advanced section and wheeled to begin the first attack.

== Battle ==
On 9 April 1782 the copper-sheathed British fleet caught up with the French, who were surprised by their speed. Admiral de Grasse ordered the French convoy to head into Guadeloupe for repair, forcing him to escort two 50-gun ships (''Fier'' and ''Experiment''), and placing his fleet in [[line of battle]] in order to cover the retreat.{{sfn||Stevens|2009|p=173}}

===First encounters===
[[File:The Battle of the Saints, 12 April 1782 RMG BHC0444.tiff|thumb|''Battle of the Saintes, April 1782'' by [[Nicholas Pocock]]]]

Hood's section of the fleet, headed by ''Barfleur'', braced for the first attack. As the first action, [[HMS Alfred (1778)|HMS ''Alfred'']] taunted the 18 approaching French ships under de Vaudreuil by exposing her broadside to the approaching French, but without consequence. The British patiently awaited the formal signal from Rodney on ''Formidable'', some six miles behind, and eventually received a red flag signal telling them to "engage the enemy." As the wind rose around noon, it enabled most of the French fleet and part of the British fleet (including Rodney in ''Formidable'') to join the melee. At this point the French outnumbered the British two to one.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|pp=86–89}} Captain William Bayne on ''Alfred'' was killed during this action.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|p=111}}

After an inconclusive encounter during which both sides suffered damage, de Grasse realised that the remainder of the British fleet would soon be upon them and broke off the engagement to withdraw a safe distance.{{sfn|Trew|2006|pp=157–62}} De Grasse moved his ships to the Saintes Islands to the north (south of Guadeloupe). Meanwhile, Rodney reversed the order of his line to bring Drake's hitherto undamaged ships to the front, and allow Hood to undertake repairs in the rear lines.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|pp=90–92}}

On 10 April the French began 10 miles distant but did not turn to engage, instead continuing on their original course, and by nightfall had increased their separation to 15 miles. This appears to be partly due to the incorrect presumption on Rodney's part that the French were going to turn to engage.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|pp=90–92}}

On Wednesday 11 April two French ships, {{ship|French ship|Zélé|1763|2}} and [[French ship Magnanime (1779)|''Magnanime'']], who had accidentally collided and fallen behind the main French fleet, came into view around noon. Rodney decided that attacking these two ships would cause de Grasse to return to protect them, which worked: a large section of the French fleet turned to protect the pair. These movements were executed without any physical attacks.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|pp=90–92}}

===Main engagement===
On 12 April the French were ranged from six to 12 miles distant and were not in formation, as the two fleets manoeuvred between the northern end of Dominica and the Saintes in the Saintes Passage. The unfortunate ''Zélé'' had had a second collision during the night with one of its rescuers, ''Ville de Paris'', and was now being towed to [[Basse-Terre]] in Guadeloupe by [[French frigate Astrée (1780)|''Astrée'']] with General de Bouillé on board. They were chased by four British ships: ''Monarch'', ''Valiant'', [[HMS Centaur (1759)|HMS ''Centaur'']] and [[HMS Belliqueux (1780)|HMS ''Belliqueux'']]. De Grasse made for Guadeloupe and {{nautical term|bear up|bore up}} with his fleet to protect the ship. At the same time, Rodney recalled his chasing ships and made the signal for line of battle.{{sfn|Mahan|2020|pp=194–221}}

Rear Admiral Hood's van division were still making repairs from the action three days earlier, so he directed his rear division, under Rear Admiral Drake, to take the lead. At 7:40, {{HMS|Marlborough|1767|6}} under Captain [[Taylor Penny]] led the British line and opened battle when she approached the centre of the French line.{{sfn|Lavery|2009|pp=144–45}} Having remained parallel with the French, the ships of Drake's division passed the remaining length of de Grasse's line and the two sides exchanged [[Broadside (naval)|broadside]]s, a typical naval engagement of the time.{{sfn|Trew|2006|pp=157–62}}

==== Initial attack ====
[[File:Battle of the Saintes plan.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|left|Map showing main stages of the battle]]
''Marlborough'' headed the British attack.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|pp=103–05}} As the battle progressed, the strong winds of the previous day and night began to temper and became more variable. As the French line passed down the British line, the sudden shift of wind let Rodney's flagship ''Formidable'' and several other ships, including ''Duke'' and {{HMS|Bedford|1775|6}}, sail toward the French line.{{sfn|Tunstall|2001|p=308}}

At 8:00&nbsp;am ''Formidable'' raised the red flag to permit ''Marlborough'' to open fire and engage the French. At this point ''Marlborough'' was opposite [[French ship Dauphin Royal (1738)|''Dauphin Royal'']], who received her full broadside.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|pp=103–05}} Sixteen ships in line separated ''Marlborough'' from ''Formidable'' and each stood 200 metres apart. As each circled past the French, they fired a broadside against them. Second, behind ''Marlborough'', was [[HMS Arrogant (1761)|HMS ''Arrogant'']], which had been recently re-equipped and managed three broadsides against one from the French as they passed. Third in line was [[HMS Alcide (1779)|HMS ''Alcide'']] under Captain Charles Thomson. Then followed [[HMS Nonsuch (1774)|HMS ''Nonsuch'']] under Captain Truscott, and then [[HMS Conqueror (1773)|HMS ''Conqueror'']] under Captain George Balfour.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|pp=103–05}}

Next in line was Admiral Drake on HMS ''Princessa'', who was in command of the first 12 vessels, and was followed by ''Prince George'' under Captain Williams. Then came the 100-year-old [[HMS Neptune (1683)|HMS ''Torbay'']] under Captain Keppel and the year-old [[HMS Anson (1781)|HMS ''Anson'']] under Captain William Blair on the main deck, who was struck by round shot at waist level and sliced in two. The blue squadron was then completed by [[HMS Fame (1759)|HMS ''Fame'']] and [[HMS Russell (1764)|HMS ''Russell'']] under Captain [[James Saumarez]].{{sfn|Fraser|1904|p=107}}

The white squadron under Rodney followed in exact formation after the blue. This was headed by [[HMS America (1777)|HMS ''America'']] under Captain Thompson. [[HMS Hercules (1759)|HMS ''Hercules'']] under Captain Henry Savage followed. Then came [[HMS Prothee (1780)|HMS ''Prothee'']] under Captain Buckner and ''Resolution'' under [[Lord Robert Manners (Royal Navy officer)|Captain Robert Manners]]. The 24-year-old Manners was the first casualty on his ship and was severely injured in both legs and right arm, dying later of these wounds.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|pp=110–11}} ''Resolution'' was followed by ''Duke'' under [[Alan Gardner, 1st Baron Gardner|Captain Alan Gardner]].{{sfn|Fraser|1904|pp=110–11}}

As ''Formidable'' was in the centre of the British line, it took her almost an hour to reach the centre of the action. All ships had to maintain a steady speed, and as she passed de Grasse's flagship, the 104-gun ''Ville de Paris'', the two met for the first time. ''Ville de Paris'' was already damaged by the 15 ships ahead of ''Formidable'' in the line. Although it was a sunny day, the smoke of the battle was like a dense fog.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|p=113}} ''Formidable'' entered the smoke and approached ''Ville de Paris'' at 8:40&nbsp;am.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|pp=117–19}}

The countermovement of the fleets brought a series of ships opposite ''Formidable'' in sequence behind ''Ville de Paris'', movements that brought about a different pairing of enemies every five minutes. Next was [[French ship Ça Ira (1781)|''Couronne'']], followed by [[French ship Éveillé (1752)|''Éveillé'']] under Le Gardeur de Tilly, and then [[French ship Sceptre (1780)|''Sceptre'']] under the command of de Vaudreuil.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|pp=117–19}}

====Breaking the line====
[[File:Battle-of-the-Saintes-12th-April-1782-William-Elliott-1784-871.jpg|thumb|Lord Rodney's flagship ''Formidable'' breaking through the French line at the Battle of the Saintes by [[William Elliott (lieutenant)|William Elliott]]]]

Within an hour, the wind had shifted to the south, forcing the French line to separate and bear to the west, as it could not hold its course into the wind. This allowed the British to use guns on both sides of their ships without fear of return fire from the front and rear of the French ships, between which they were passing. The effect was greater using the carronades, with which the British had just equipped nearly half their fleet. This relatively new short-range weapon was quicker to reload and more of them could be carried. {{HMS|Glorieux||2}}, under command of Captain des Cars, moving in the wake of ''Ville de Paris'', was the next victim. Virtually a sitting duck due to damage in the previous 10 minutes from ''Duke'', she was quickly pounded and dismasted by intense fire.

In the confusion four French ships beginning with [[French ship Diadème (1756)|''Diadem'']] broke out of sequence, partly due to the uncontrollable speed of the mastless ''Glorieux''. ''Formidable'' turned to starboard and brought her port guns to bear on them.{{sfn|Trew|2006|pp=157–62}} As a result, ''Formidable'' sailed through the gap, breaking the French line. This breach was further followed through by five other British ships.{{sfn|Mahan|2020|pp=194–221}} The breach was later recorded by [[Charles Dashwood (Royal Navy officer)|Charles Dashwood]], who was a midshipman on ''Formidable'' on that day.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|p=123}}

Although the concept of "breaking the line" was born here, it is logically of mixed blessings, since in breaking the enemy line, one breaks one's own line. Whilst the movement has the advantage that guns can be fired on both port and starboard sides, it also exposes the ship to attack on both sides. The advantage in this instance was that many of the French gunners left their post, in fear of ''Formidable'''s three tiers of guns bearing down on them.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|p=126}}

''Diadem'' appears to have fully withdrawn from the battle at this stage, and many presumed her to be sunk. ''Formidable'' was followed by ''Namur'' under [[Robert Fanshawe (Royal Navy officer)|Captain Fanshawe]] and then ''St Albans'' under [[Charles Inglis (c. 1731-1791)|Captain Inglis]]. These were followed by the deadly ''Canada'' under Captain [[William Cornwallis]], [[HMS Repulse (1780)|HMS ''Repulse'']] under Captain Thomas Dumaresq, and [[HMS Ajax (1765)|HMS ''Ajax'']] under Captain Nicholas Charrington. Each of these fired further upon the hapless and already crippled ''Glorieux''.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|p=122}}

[[File:Charles Edward Dixon HMS Formidable 1777 Admiral Rodney (cropped).jpg|thumb|Painting of the battle by [[Charles Dixon (artist)|Charles Dixon]]]]

Simultaneously, and because of the smoke, Commodore [[Edmund Affleck]] on ''Bedford'', the hindmost ship of the central white squadron, accidentally sailed through the confused French line, between [[French ship César (1768)|''César'']] and [[French ship Hector (1756)|''Hector'']], only to discover this error when no enemy lay on his starboard side in the clearing smoke.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|pp=130–33}}

''Bedford'' was followed by Hood's red squadron and this broke the French line into three sections. In the confusion the two leading ships of the rear red squadron, [[HMS Prince William (1780)|HMS ''Prince William'']] and ''Magnificent'', had somehow passed ''Bedford'', who was now third in line within the red squadron and completely detached from her own white squadron.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|pp=130–33}} The whole red squadron then passed between ''César'' and ''Hector'', causing each to be crippled. The final ship of the red squadron, [[HMS Royal Oak (1769)|HMS ''Royal Oak'']], passed the stern of ''César'' and delivered a final blow a few minutes after 11:00&nbsp;am. Both fleets then drifted apart for some time and became temporarily becalmed.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|pp=130–33}}

Around noon, both fleets observed that the waters were teeming with sharks attracted by the noise and blood. French casualties were greatly increased due to the high number of troops packed onto the lower decks: a minimum of 900 per ship and no fewer than 1,300 on ''Ville de Paris''. In order to lessen the confusion, the French had been throwing the dead (and perhaps the near-dead) overboard, a rich feast for the sharks.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|pp=130–33}}

===French retreat===
The French now lay totally to the [[leeward]] of the British fleet, which stood between them and their destination. They had little option on the re-emergence of the wind but to sail west with it and attempt escape. At 1:00&nbsp;pm the frigate [[HMS Richmond (1757)|''Richemont'']], under the command of Captain De Mortemart, but with [[Denis Decrès]] in charge of the marines, was sent to join a towing cable to the heavily crippled ''Glorieux''. [[French ship Souverain (1757)|''Souverain'']] moved alongside to provide covering fire. However, the British, with both wind and cannon-power in their favour, moved a number of ships up to block this movement.

The captain of ''Glorieux'' was already dead, and the ship was now under command of the senior officer remaining, Lieutenant Trogoff de Kerlessi. ''Souverain'' and ''Richmond'' retreated under heavy fire, and Kerlessi had little choice but to tear the flag from the mast and surrender, which was done to ''Royal Oak''. Captain Burnett used this opportunity to restock his depleted powder supplies. Meanwhile, ''Monarch'' stood alongside ''Andromache'', who was acting as a supply ship to the British fleet; 40 barrels of powder were exchanged.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|pp=137–38}}

In the next action, around 1:30&nbsp;pm, ''Centaur'' and ''Bedford'' attacked the stricken ''César'', captained by [[Augustin Etienne Gaspard Bernard de Marigny|Bernard de Marigny]], who refused to surrender and was seriously wounded in the first five minutes. Command then fell to his Captain Paul.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|pp=137–38}}

[[File:Combat naval 12 avril 1782-Dumoulin-IMG 5486.JPG|thumb|left|Depiction of the battle by [[François Aimé Louis Dumoulin]]]]

With their formation shattered and many of their ships severely damaged, the French fell away to the southwest in small groups.{{sfn|Trew|2006|pp=157–62}} Rodney attempted to redeploy and make repairs before pursuing the French.{{sfn|Gardiner|1996|pp=123–127}} By 2:00&nbsp;pm the wind had freshened and a general chase ensued. As the British pressed south, [[French ship Ardent (1764)|''Ardent'']] was flanked by HMS Belliqueux and HMS Prince William and soon surrendered. They then took possession of Glorieux and caught up with the French rear at around 3pm.  Admiral de Grasse signalled other ships to protect ''Ville de Paris'', but this was only partially fulfilled. Nine ships from de Vaudreuil's squadron came to his aid.

The British fleet bore down on this small group. In succession Rodney's ships isolated the other three ships. ''César'', which was soon totally dismasted and in flames, was captured by ''Centaur''.{{sfn|Roche|2005|p=238}} Soon after 5:00&nbsp;pm, ''Hector'', having been flanked by ''Canada'' and ''Alcide'', soon became a completely dismasted wreck. Following the mortal wounding of his captain, De la Vicomte, his first lieutenant De Beaumanoir, lowered the ship's flag and surrendered to ''Alcide''.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|p=140}}

Bougainville, who commanded {{ship|French ship|Auguste|1778|2}}, had ordered eight ships of his own division{{sfn|Trew|2006|pp=157–62}} to aid ''Ville de Paris'', but only ''Ardent'' had proceeded. Her isolation caused her to be flanked by ''Belliqueux'' and ''Prince William'', soon leading to her capture.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|p=140}}

At 5:30&nbsp;pm de Grasse's ''Ville de Paris'' stood practically alone and had ''Barfleur'' in close pursuit, with ''Formidable'' close behind. Five ships from de Vaudreuil's squadron were trying to protect her, but none in close formation. These were ''Triomphant'' (de Vaudreuil's flagship), ''Bourgogne'' (under De La Charette), ''Magnifique'' (Macarty Macteigue), ''Pluton'' (De Rions), and ''Marseillais'' (De Castellane-Majastre). Three ships from de Grasse's squadron also still remained: ''Languedoc'', ''Couronne'' and ''Sceptre''.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|pp=143–44}}

De Grasse's closest protector, ''Couronne'', moved away at the approach of ''Canada'', who began the final attack on ''Ville de Paris''. With little support and suffering huge losses in men, de Grasse made another attempt to signal the fleet and gave the order "to build the line on the starboard [[Tacking (sailing)|tack]]," but again this was not done.{{sfn|Mahan|2020|pp=205–26}} By this time, most of the French fleet, apart from those ships that were surrounded, had retreated.

===End of the battle===
''Canada'' swept past ''Ville de Paris'', doing damage to the spars and slowing her further. HMS ''Russell'' under Captain Saumarez then moved diagonally along the stern of the flagship and fired a broadside that ripped the entire length of the ship. ''Russell'' then moved to the leeward side to hamper the ship's retreat, whilst ''Barfleur'' moved onto the opposite side. ''Languedoc'' attempted to approach and give aid but was beaten back by ''Duke''.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|pp=146–48}}

''Ville de Paris'' was in desperate condition, with all masts damaged, the rudder shot away, and at least 300 men dead or injured in the cockpit. Around 6:00&nbsp;pm, overwhelmed and suffering terrible losses, ''Ville de Paris'' eventually [[Striking the colors|struck her colours]], signaling surrender.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Troude|first=Onésime-Joachim|author-link=Onésime-Joachim Troude|year=1867|publisher=Challamel ainé|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TwZv6FX-RpsC|title=Batailles navales de la France|language=fr|volume=2|page=155}}</ref> Hood approached on ''Barfleur'', which de Grasse had indicated was his preferred method of surrender, to receive the French surrender.

The boarding crew, which included the British fleet surgeon [[Gilbert Blane]], were horrified at the carnage.{{refn | name = nbBlane/Macintyre| group = lower-alpha |Blane noted, "When boarded, ''Ville de Paris'' presented a scene of complete horror. The numbers killed were so great that the surviving, either from want of leisure, or through dismay, had not thrown the bodies of the killed overboard, so that the decks were covered with the blood and mangled limbs of the dead, as well as the wounded and dying."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Macintyre|first1=Donald|title=Admiral Rodney|date=1962|publisher=Norton|page=239}}</ref>}} Admiral de Grasse appeared not to have a scratch on him, whilst every one of his officers had either been killed or wounded; only three men were unwounded. Rodney boarded soon after, and Hood presented de Grasse to him.{{sfn|Trew|2006|pp=157–62}} With his surrender, the battle had effectively ended, except for a few long-range desultory shots and the retreat of many of the French ships in disorder.{{sfn|Mahan|2020|pp=205–26}} The gallantry of William Cornwallis of ''Canada'' (younger brother of [[Charles Cornwallis]]) gained the admiration of the whole fleet. One officer noted that he was "like Hector, as if emulous to revenge his brothers cause."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Stedman |first1=Charles |title=The History of the Origin, Progress, and Termination of the American War: Who Served Under Sir W. Howe, Sir H. Clinton, and the Marquis Cornwallis |date=1794 |publisher=P. Wogan, P. Byrne, J. Moore, and W. Jones |page=433 |isbn=978-0-608-39952-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IoppzQEACAAJ}}</ref>

The Marquis de Vaudreuil, seeing de Grasse's fate through his telescope, took command of the remaining scattered French naval fleet. On 13 April he had 10 ships with him and sailed toward Cap-Français.{{sfn|Trew|2006|pp=157–62}} Rodney signaled his fleet not to pursue the remaining ships. The battle was thus over.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|p=152}}

Later that night around 9:00&nbsp;pm, fire broke out on ''César'', begun by the entrapped French crew on the lower decks, who had broken into the liquor stores. By 10:30&nbsp;pm the fire was out of control and the [[Gunpowder magazine|magazine]] exploded, killing more than 400 French and 58 British sailors, plus the lieutenant in charge, all from ''Centaur''. Many men jumped overboard trying to avoid the conflagration,{{sfn|Gardiner|1996|pp=123–27}} only to fall victim to the sharks below. Captain Marigny, who had been confined to his cabin, was one of the many killed, and none of the British prize crew survived.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|p=155}}

<gallery class="center" widths="250" heights="230">
File:Barnard's History of England - Rodney accepts the surrender of deGrasse(crop).jpg|A 1785 engraving of de Grasse surrendering to Rodney.
File:Fin du César-Dumoulin-IMG 5478.JPG|''The End of the César'' by [[François Aimé Louis Dumoulin]]
File:French Captive Ships 12 April 1782.jpg|Captured French ships after the battle by [[Dominic Serres]]
</gallery>

===Casualties===
The British lost 243 killed and 816 wounded, and two captains out of 36 were killed, whilst no ships were lost. The highest casualties were on ''Duke'', with 73 killed or wounded,{{sfn|Mahan|2020|p=220}} including the death of Lieutenant Rowland de Cerjat.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Protestant_Exiles_from_France/Volume_2_-_Book_Third_-_Chapter_7_-_Section_V|title=Protestant Exiles from France|chapter=Volume 2 - Book Third - Chapter 7 - Section V |year=1886 }}</ref> The total French casualties have never been stated, but six captains out of 30 were killed. In terms of soldiers and sailors, estimates range from 3,000 killed or wounded and 5,000 captured,{{sfn|Trew|2006|p=169}} to as many as around 3,000 dead, 6,000 wounded,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lendrum |first1=John |title=History of the American Revolution: With a Summary Review of the State and Character of the British Colonies of North America, Volume 2 |date=1836 |publisher=J. and B. Williams |page=173 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7XCjNufZoXUC&pg=PA173}}</ref> and 6,000 captured.{{sfn|Duffy|Mackay|2009|p=146}} In addition to several French ships captured, others were severely damaged. The high number of casualties demonstrates the considerable force the French committed to achieve the invasion of Jamaica.{{sfn|Mahan|2020|p=220}} Of ''Ville de Paris''{{'}}s crew alone, over 400 were killed and more than 700 were wounded—more than the casualties of the entire British fleet.{{sfn|Valin|2009|p=58}} De Grasse—the first French admiral in history to be captured by an enemy—was sent to England, where he was [[parole]]d.

==Aftermath==
[[File:Admiral of the White by Thomas Gainsborough.jpg|thumb|upright|''[[Admiral Rodney at the Battle of the Saintes]]''. Painted a year after the battle, Rodney is shown standing on the deck of the captured ''Ville de Paris''. Oil on canvas by [[Thomas Gainsborough]]]]

Rodney's failure to follow up the victory by a pursuit was criticised. Samuel Hood said that the 20 French ships would have been captured had Rodney maintained the chase. In 1899 the [[Navy Records Society]] published the ''Dispatches and Letters Relating to the Blockading of Brest''. In the introduction, they include a small biography of William Cornwallis. A poem purportedly written by him includes the lines:
{{center|<blockquote>Had a chief worthy Britain commanded our fleet,<br />Twenty-five good French ships had been laid at our feet.<ref name=Leyland1899>{{cite book|last=Leyland|first =John|title=Dispatches and letters relating to the blockade of Brest, 1803–1805|publisher=Printed for the [[Navy Records Society]]|year=1899|url =https://archive.org/details/dispatchesandle00leylgoog|page =xx}}</ref></blockquote>}}

On 17 April Hood was sent in pursuit of the French, and promptly captured two 64-gun ships of the line ([[HMS Argonaut (1782)|''Jason'']] and {{ship|French ship|Caton|1777|2}}) and two smaller warships in the [[Battle of the Mona Passage]] on 19 April.{{sfn|Gardiner|1996|pp=123–27}} Following this victory, Hood rendezvoused with Rodney at [[Port Royal, Jamaica|Port Royal]] on 29 April. As a result of the damage the fleet had sustained in battle, repairs took nine weeks.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|p=163}}

Soon after the defeat, the French fleet reached [[Cap-François]] in several waves. The main contingent, under de Vaudreuil, arrived on 25 April. ''Marseillais'', along with ''Hercule'', {{ship|French ship|Pluton|1778|2}} and ''Éveillé'', arrived on 11 May.{{sfn|Troude|1867|p=158}} In May all 26 French ships from the battle arrived from Martinique and were soon joined by 12 Spanish ships. Disease struck the French forces, in particular the soldiers, of whom thousands died. The allies' hesitation and indecision soon led them to abandon plans to attack Jamaica.{{sfn|Trew|2006|pp=157–62}} Instead the French and Spanish focused on protecting their own territories. Jamaica remained a British colony, as indeed did Barbados and Antigua.{{sfn|Valin|2009|p=58}}

Disaster struck the British months after the battle when [[Thomas Graves, 1st Baron Graves|Admiral Graves]] was leading a fleet back to England that included the French prizes from the battle. The fleet encountered the [[1782 Central Atlantic hurricane]] in September, which hit off [[Newfoundland]]. ''Glorieux'', ''Hector'' and ''Ville de Paris'', along with other ships, foundered or sank with heavy loss of life.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|p=164}}

===Reactions===
News of the battle reached France in June and was met with despair. The defeat along with the loss of ''Ville de Paris'' was a devastating blow to French king [[Louis XVI]].{{sfn|Hardman|2016|p=169}} The navy minister, the [[Charles Eugène Gabriel de La Croix|Marquis de Castries]], greeted the news as "a grim disaster".{{sfn|Tombs|Tombs|2010|p=178}} The [[Comte de Vergennes]] felt undermined in the confidence of the French navy.{{sfn|Greene|Pole|2008|p=358}} All blame lay on the Comte de Grasse, whilst he himself sought long to clear his name. He blamed his subordinates de Vaudreuil and Bougainville for the defeat, but an infuriated Louis bluntly told de Grasse to retire.{{sfn|Greene|2005|p=328}}

The battle had repercussions for France's finances: the monetary loss was huge. On '' Ville de Paris'' alone, 36 chests of money worth at least £500,000 were found, this being payment for the troops.{{sfn|Fraser|1904|p=158}} During the first four years of the war, the French navy had lost four ships of the line (three of them to accidents), whereas during 1782 it would lose 15 ships of the line, nearly half of these in April alone.{{sfn|Dull|2009|p=115}} The losses of these ships were significant. Nevertheless, Louis promised to build more ships after new taxes were levied.{{sfn|Hardman|2016|p=169}} The French finance minister, [[Jean-François Joly de Fleury]], successfully secured the addition of a [[Vingtième]] income tax, the third and last one of its kind in the [[ancien régime]].{{sfn|Hardman|2016|pp=173, 218–19}}

There was widespread celebration in Britain upon news of the victory. In the newspaper ''Cumberland Pacquet'' it was noted, "A joy unknown for years past seemed to spread itself amongst all ranks of people."{{sfn|Page|2014|p=38}} On his return Rodney was fêted as a hero, and a number of cartoons and caricatures were created to commemorate the victory. He presented the Comte de Grasse personally to King George III as a prisoner, and was created a [[Peerage|peer]] with £2,000 a year settled on the title in perpetuity. A number of paintings were commissioned to celebrate his victory, notably by [[Thomas Gainsborough]] and [[Joshua Reynolds]]. Hood was also elevated to the peerage, whilst Drake and Affleck were made [[baronet]]s.{{sfn|Mahan|2020|pp=194–221}}

===Impact on peace negotiations===
[[File:Rodney introducing de Grasse by James Gillray.jpg|thumb|Caricature of Rodney presenting de Grasse to [[George III]]]]

Following the Franco-American victory at Yorktown six months earlier and the [[Second Rockingham Ministry|change of government]] in England, [[Peace of Paris (1783)|peace negotiations in Paris]] had begun among Britain, the American colonies, France, and Spain in early 1782. The battle had a significant effect on those talks when news arrived of its outcome in June.{{sfn|Allison|Ferreiro|2018|page=220|ps=: This reversal had a significant effect on peace negotiations to end the American revolution which were already underway and would lead to an agreement by the end of the year.}} The result of the Battle of the Saintes transferred the strategic initiative to the British, whose dominance at sea was reasserted. News of the defeat reached the Americans, who soon realised they were unlikely to have much French support in the future. American General [[Nathanael Greene]] had high hopes of French assistance in the recapture of [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]], but the defeat led to its abandonment.{{sfn|Buchanan|2019|p=307}}

No longer humbled, the British stiffened their resolve: they objected to American claims on the Newfoundland fisheries and [[British North America|Canada]]. As a result, the American negotiators led by [[John Jay]] became more amenable.{{sfn|Harvey|2004|pp=530–31}} Not only did they drop their minimum demands and insist on the single precondition of recognition of their independence, they also put forward America's abandonment of its commitment to make no separate peace treaty without the French. The victory at the Saintes thus signaled a collapse in the Franco-American alliance.{{sfn|Harvey|2004|pp=530–31}} Despite this the battle did not affect the overall outcome of the American Revolution.{{sfn|Barnes|2014|p=135}}

De Castries urged Spain to join the French to send another armada against the British West Indies. On the theory of this victory, it would win bargaining power to force Britain's acceptance of American independence.{{sfn|Miller|2015|p=236}} Vergennes, however, was desperate for peace, and time was running out: France was approaching the limits of its ability to borrow money.{{sfn|Greene|Pole|2008|p=358}} France had also promised not to make peace with Britain until Spain had achieved its principal goal of [[Great Siege of Gibraltar|conquering Gibraltar]]. By October this attempt had been defeated: a huge Spanish attempt in September was repelled with heavy losses, following which [[Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe|Richard Howe]], with a large naval convoy, then relieved the garrison. As a result, Vergennes demanded that Spain give up its claim on Gibraltar to make peace, to which the Spanish acquiesced.{{sfn|Mahan|2020|pp=205–26}}

The Comte de Grasse, who was a high-profile prisoner in Britain, was used to exchange messages of peace between Great Britain and France.{{sfn|Greene|Pole|2008|p=359}} A preliminary peace treaty between Great Britain and the United States was signed on 30 November 1782. Thus, with the Americans split from their allies, peace was signed with France and Spain in January 1783. Initial articles of peace were [[Peace of Paris (1783)|signed in July]], following by a [[Treaty of Paris (1783)|full treaty]] in September 1783. Owing to their military successes in 1782, the peace treaties that brought the war to an end were less disadvantageous for Britain than had been anticipated.{{sfn|Page|2014|p=38}}

===Impact on naval tactics===
Superior British seamanship and gunnery ruled the day in what is considered the greatest naval victory for the British over the French during the American Revolutionary War.

The battle is famous for the innovative British tactic of "breaking the line," in which the British ships passed through a gap in the French line, engaging the enemy from leeward and throwing them into disorder.{{sfn|O'Shaughnessy|2013|p=314}} Historians disagree about whether the tactic was intentional or made possible by weather. If intentional, who should receive credit is ambiguous: Rodney,{{refn|name=nbBlane|group=lower-alpha|According to [[dramatist]] [[Richard Cumberland (dramatist)|Richard Cumberland]], Rodney discussed breaking the line over dinner at Lord [[George Germain, 1st Viscount Sackville|George Germain]]'s country residence at [[Buckhurst Park, Sussex|Stoneland]]. He used cherry stones to represent two battle lines and "declared to pierce the enemy's fleet".{{sfn|O'Shaughnessy|2013|p=314}}}} his Scottish Captain-of-the-Fleet and [[aide-de-camp]], [[Sir Charles Douglas, 1st Baronet|Sir Charles Douglas]],{{refn|name=nbQRJan1830|group=lower-alpha|[[Charles Dashwood (Royal Navy officer)|Charles Dashwood]], a 17-year-old aide-de-camp to both men, wrote, "Sir Charles was [heading to Sir George's cabin when he] met with Rodney, who was coming from the cabin ... Sir Charles bowed and said: 'Sir George, I give you the joy of victory!' 'Poh!' said Rodney 'the day is not half won yet.' 'Break the line, Sir George!' said your father, 'the day is your own, and I shall insure you the victory.' 'No' said the Admiral, 'I will not break my line.' After another request and refusal, Sir Charles ordered the helmsman to put to port; Sir Rodney countermanded the order and said, 'starboard.' He then said, 'Remember, Sir Charles that I am Commander-in-Chief—starboard, sir (to the helmsman).' A couple of minutes later, Sir Charles addressed him again—'only break the line Sir George, and the day is your own.' Rodney then said, 'Well, well, do as you like,' turned around, and walked into the aft cabin. I was then ordered below to give necessary directions for opening the fire on the larboard side. On my return to the quarterdeck (from below), I found the ''Formidable'' passing between two French ships, each nearly touching us".<ref>{{cite journal|title=Rodney's Battle of 12 April 1782: A Statement of Some Important Facts, Supported by Authentic Documents, Relating to the Operation of Breaking the Enemy's Line, as Practiced for the First Time in the Celebrated Battle of 12 April 1782.|journal=Quarterly Review|date=1830|volume=XLII|issue= LXXXIII|page=64}}</ref>}} or [[John Clerk of Eldin]].{{sfn|Valin|2009|pp=67–68}}

As a result of the battle, British naval tactics changed. The old method had involved the attacking fleet spreading itself along the entire enemy line. In the five formal fleet actions involving the Royal Navy between the Battle of the Saintes and the [[Battle of Trafalgar]], all were victories for the British and achieved by the creation of localised numerical superiority.<ref name="Willis">{{cite book |last1=Willis |first1=Sam |title=Fighting at Sea in the Eighteenth Century: The Art of Sailing Warfare |date=2008 |publisher=The Boydell Press |location=Woodbridge |isbn=978-1-84383-367-3 |pages=130–31}}</ref>

==Monuments==
A huge ornate monument to the three captains lost in the battle—William Blair, William Bayne and Robert Manners—was erected to their memory in [[Westminster Abbey]].<ref>''Famous Fighters of the Fleet'', Edward Fraser, 1904, p. 111</ref> The {{convert|25|ft|m|adj=mid|-high}} marble monument by [[Joseph Nollekens]] was completed in 1793. It consists of a figure of Fame standing on a column which has relief portraits of the captains attached, above figures of [[Britannia]] and a lion opposite figures of [[Neptune (mythology)|Neptune]] and a sea horse.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/commemorations/william-blair |title= William Blair |website= Westminster Abbey |access-date=4 November 2022}}</ref>

A monument in [[Spanish Town]], Jamaica, was created to honour Admiral Rodney's role in the battle. It was created by the sculptor [[John Bacon (sculptor, born 1777)|John Bacon]] in 1801. Two of the ''Ville de Paris'' guns flank Rodney's statue.<ref name="Aspinall 1907">{{cite book |last1=Aspinall |first1=Algernon E |title=The pocket guide to the West Indies, British Guiana, British Honduras, the Bermudas, the Spanish Main, and the Panama canal. |date=1907 |publisher=Rand, McNally & Company |pages=188–89 |edition=New and revised 1914 |url=https://archive.org/stream/pocketguidetowes00aspi/pocketguidetowes00aspi#page/188/mode/1up |access-date=23 July 2018}}</ref>
<gallery class="center" widths="250px" heights="230px">
File:3 Captains monument in Westminster Abbey.jpg |The Three Captains monument, Westminster Abbey
File:The Three Captains monument, Westminster Abbey 04.jpg |Detail of the Three Captains monument, Westminster Abbey
File:Rodney monument.jpg|Rodney monument in Spanish Town, Jamaica
</gallery>

== Order of battle ==

=== Britain ===
{| class="wikitable" width=100%
|-valign="top"
|+Admiral Sir George Rodney's fleet<ref name=LondonGazette>{{London Gazette|issue=12396 |date=12 October 1782 |pages=3–4}}</ref>
|- valign="top"
|-valign="top"
!colspan="8" bgcolor="white"|Van
|- valign="top"
! width="15%" align="center" rowspan="2" | Ship
! width="10%" align="center" rowspan="2" | [[Rating system of the Royal Navy|Rate]]
! width="5%" align="center" rowspan="2" | Guns
! width="25%" align="center" rowspan="2" | Commander
! width="9%" align="center" colspan="3" | Casualties
! width="36%" align="center" rowspan="2" | Notes
|-valign="top"
! width="3%" align="center" | Killed
! width="3%" align="center" | Wounded
! width="3%" align="center" | Total
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Royal Oak|1769|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain Thomas Burnett
| align= right | {{center|8}}
| align= right | {{center|30}}
| align= right | {{center|38}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Alfred|1778|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain [[William Bayne (Royal Navy officer)|William Bayne]] {{KIA}}
| align= right | {{center|12}}
| align= right | {{center|40}}
| align= right | {{center|52}}
| align= left | Bayne killed on 9 April
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Montagu|1779|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain George Bowen
| align= right | {{center|14}}
| align= right | {{center|29}}
| align= right | {{center|43}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Yarmouth|1748|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 64
| align= left | Captain Anthony Parrey
| align= right | {{center|14}}
| align= right | {{center|33}}
| align= right | {{center|47}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Valiant|1759|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain [[Samuel Goodall|Samuel Granston Goodall]]
| align= right | {{center|10}}
| align= right | {{center|28}}
| align= right | {{center|38}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Barfleur|1768|6}}
| align= center | [[Second rate]]
| align= center | 98
| align= left | Rear Admiral '''[[Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood|Sir Samuel Hood]]'''<br>Captain [[John Knight (Royal Navy officer)|John Knight]]
| align= right | {{center|10}}
| align= right | {{center|37}}
| align= right | {{center|47}}
| align= left |Flagship of van
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Monarch|1765|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain [[Francis Reynolds-Moreton, 3rd Baron Ducie|Francis Reynolds]]
| align= right | {{center|16}}
| align= right | {{center|33}}
| align= right | {{center|49}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Warrior|1781|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain [[James Wallace (Royal Navy officer)|Sir James Wallace]]
| align= right | {{center|5}}
| align= right | {{center|21}}
| align= right | {{center|26}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Belliqueux|1780|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 64
| align= left | Captain [[Andrew Sutherland (Royal Navy officer)|Andrew Sutherland]]
| align= right | {{center|4}}
| align= right | {{center|10}}
| align= right | {{center|14}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Centaur|1759|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain [[John Nicholson Inglefield]]
| align= right | {{center|?}}
| align= right | {{center|?}}
| align= right | {{center|?}}
| align= left |No casualty returns made
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Magnificent|1766|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain [[Robert Linzee]]
| align= right | {{center|6}}
| align= right | {{center|11}}
| align= right | {{center|17}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Prince William|1780|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 64
| align= left | Captain George Wilkinson
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= left |
|-valign="top"
!colspan="8" bgcolor="white"|Centre
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Bedford|1775|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Commodore [[Edmund Affleck]]<br>Captain [[Thomas Graves (Royal Navy officer)|Thomas Graves]]
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|17}}
| align= right | {{center|17}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Ajax|1765|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain Nicholas Charrington
| align= right | {{center|9}}
| align= right | {{center|40}}
| align= right | {{center|49}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Repulse|1780|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 64
| align= left | Captain [[Thomas Dumaresq]]
| align= right | {{center|3}}
| align= right | {{center|11}}
| align= right | {{center|14}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Canada|1765|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain [[William Cornwallis]]
| align= right | {{center|12}}
| align= right | {{center|23}}
| align= right | {{center|35}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|St Albans|1764|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 64
| align= left | Captain [[Charles Inglis (c. 1731–1791)|Charles Inglis]]
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|6}}
| align= right | {{center|6}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Namur|1756|6}}
| align= center | [[Second rate]]
| align= center | 90
| align= left | Captain [[Robert Fanshawe (Royal Navy officer)|Robert Fanshawe]]
| align= right | {{center|6}}
| align= right | {{center|25}}
| align= right | {{center|31}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Formidable|1777|6}}
| align= center | [[Second rate]]
| align= center | 98
| align= left | Admiral '''[[George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney|Sir George Rodney]]'''<br>Captain [[Sir Charles Douglas, 1st Baronet|Sir Charles Douglas]] (first captain)<br>Captain John Symons (second captain)
| align= right | {{center|15}}
| align= right | {{center|39}}
| align= right | {{center|53}}
| align= left |Flagship of centre
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Duke|1777|6}}
| align= center | [[Second rate]]
| align= center | 98
| align= left | Captain [[Alan Gardner, 1st Baron Gardner|Alan Gardner]]
| align= right | {{center|13}}
| align= right | {{center|60}}
| align= right | {{center|73}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Agamemnon|1781|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 64
| align= left | Captain [[Benjamin Caldwell]]
| align= right | {{center|15}}
| align= right | {{center|23}}
| align= right | {{center|38}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Resolution|1770|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain [[Lord Robert Manners (Royal Navy officer)|Lord Robert Manners]]
| align= right | {{center|4}}
| align= right | {{center|34}}
| align= right | {{center|38}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Prothee|1780|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 64
| align= left | Captain [[Charles Buckner]]
| align= right | {{center|5}}
| align= right | {{center|25}}
| align= right | {{center|30}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Hercules|1759|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain Henry Savage
| align= right | {{center|6}}
| align= right | {{center|19}}
| align= right | {{center|25}}
| align= left |Captain Savage wounded
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|America|1777|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 64
| align= left | Captain Samuel Thompson
| align= right | {{center|1}}
| align= right | {{center|1}}
| align= right | {{center|2}}
| align= left |
|-valign="top"
!colspan="8" bgcolor="white"|Rear
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Russell|1764|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain [[James Saumarez, 1st Baron de Saumarez|James Saumarez]]
| align= right | {{center|10}}
| align= right | {{center|29}}
| align= right | {{center|39}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Fame|1759|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain Robert Barbor
| align= right | {{center|3}}
| align= right | {{center|12}}
| align= right | {{center|15}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Anson|1781|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 64
| align= left | Captain William Blair {{KIA}}
| align= right | {{center|3}}
| align= right | {{center|13}}
| align= right | {{center|16}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Neptune (1683)|HMS ''Torbay'']]
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain John Lewis Gidoin
| align= right | {{center|10}}
| align= right | {{center|25}}
| align= right | {{center|35}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Prince George|1772|6}}
| align= center | [[Second rate]]
| align= center | 98
| align= left | Captain James Williams
| align= right | {{center|9}}
| align= right | {{center|24}}
| align= right | {{center|33}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Princessa|1780|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 70
| align= left | Rear Admiral '''[[Francis Samuel Drake]]'''<br />Captain Charles Knatchbull
| align= right | {{center|3}}
| align= right | {{center|22}}
| align= right | {{center|25}}
| align= left |Flagship of rear
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Conqueror|1773|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain George Balfour
| align= right | {{center|7}}
| align= right | {{center|23}}
| align= right | {{center|30}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Nonsuch|1774|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 64
| align= left | Captain William Truscott
| align= right | {{center|3}}
| align= right | {{center|3}}
| align= right | {{center|6}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Alcide|1779|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain [[Sir Charles Thompson, 1st Baronet|Charles Thompson]]
| align= right | {{center|?}}
| align= right | {{center|?}}
| align= right | {{center|?}}
| align= left |No casualty returns made
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Arrogant|1761|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain Samuel Pitchford Cornish
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Marlborough|1767|6}}
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain [[Taylor Penny]]
| align= right | {{center|3}}
| align= right | {{center|16}}
| align= right | {{center|19}}
| align= left |
|-valign="top"
!colspan="8" bgcolor="white"|Not in line
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Endymion|1779|6}}
| align= center | [[Fifth rate]]
| align= center | 44
| align= left | Captain [[Edward Smith (Royal Navy officer)|Edward Smith]]
| align= right |
| align= right |
| align= right |
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Flora|1780|6}}
| align= center | [[Fifth rate]]
| align= center | 36
| align= left | Captain [[Samuel Marshall (Royal Navy officer)|Samuel Marshall]]
| align= right |
| align= right |
| align= right |
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Alarm|1758|6}}
| align= center | [[Fifth rate]]
| align= center | 32
| align= left | Captain [[Sir Charles Cotton, 5th Baronet|Charles Cotton]]
| align= right |
| align= right |
| align= right |
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Andromache|1781|6}}
| align= center | [[Fifth rate]]
| align= center | 32
| align= left | Captain George Anson Byron
| align= right |
| align= right |
| align= right |
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Sibyl|1779|6}}
| align= center | [[Sixth rate]]
| align= center | 28
| align= left | Captain [[John Rodney (of Armsworth)|John Rodney]]
| align= right |
| align= right |
| align= right |
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Triton|1773|6}}
| align= center | [[Sixth rate]]
| align= center | 28
| align= left | Captain [[John M'Lawrin]]
| align= right |
| align= right |
| align= right |
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Champion|1779|6}}
| align= center | [[Sixth rate]]
| align= center | 24
| align= left | Captain [[Alexander Hood (Royal Navy officer, born 1758)|Alexander Hood]]
| align= right |
| align= right |
| align= right |
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Eurydice|1781|6}}
| align= center | [[Sixth rate]]
| align= center | 24
| align= left | Captain [[George Wilson (Royal Navy officer)|George Wilson]]
| align= right |
| align= right |
| align= right |
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | {{HMS|Alert|1779|6}}
| align= center | [[Cutter (boat)|Cutter]]
| align= center | 14
| align= left | Commander [[James Vashon]]
| align= right |
| align= right |
| align= right |
| align= left |
|-
!colspan="9" bgcolor="white"|Total recorded casualties: 239 killed, 762 wounded (casualties for two ships unknown)
|-
|}

=== France ===
{| class="wikitable" width=100%
|-valign="top"
|+Admiral de Grasse's fleet{{sfnp|Troude|1867|p=140}}{{sfnp|Lacour-Gayet|1905|p=648}}
|- valign="top"
! width="8%" align="center" rowspan="2" | Division
! width="17%" align="center" rowspan="2" | Ship
! width="5%" align="center" rowspan="2" | Guns
! width="25%" align="center" rowspan="2" | Commander
! width="9%" align="center" colspan="3" | Casualties
! width="36%" align="center" rowspan="2" | Notes
|-valign="top"
! width="3%" align="center" | Killed
! width="3%" align="center" | Wounded
! width="3%" align="center" | Total
|- valign="center"
!colspan="8" bgcolor="white"|Escadre bleue (Chef d'Escadre de Bougainville)
|- valign="center"
| rowspan="4", align= center | 3rd<br />Division
| align= left   | [[French ship Hercule (1778)|''Hercule'']]
| align= center | [[74-gun|74]]
| align= left   | [[Jean Isaac Chadeau de la Clocheterie|Chadeau de la Clocheterie]] {{KIA}}
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   | First officer [[Joseph Gabriel de Poulpiquet de Coatlès|Poulpiquet de Coatlès]]  assumed command{{sfnp|Guérin|1863|p=148}}
|- valign="center"
<!--| rowspan="4", align= center | 3rd<br />Division-->
| align= left   | [[French ship Neptune (1778)|''Neptune'']]
| align= center | [[74-gun|74]]
| align= left   | [[Laurent-Emmanuel de Renaud d'Aleins|Renaud d'Aleins]]{{sfnp|Guérin|1863|p=148}}
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   |
|- valign="center"
<!--| rowspan="4", align= center | 3rd<br />Division-->
| align= left   | [[French ship Souverain (1757)|''Souverain'']]
| align= center | [[74-gun|74]]
| align= left   | [[Jean-Baptiste de Glandevès du Castellet|Glandevès du Castellet]]
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   |
|- valign="center"
<!--| rowspan="4", align= center | 3rd<br />Division-->
| align= left   | [[French ship Palmier (1752)|''Palmier'']]
| align= center | [[74-gun|74]]
| align= left   | [[Joseph Jacques François de Martelly Chautard|Martelly-Chautard]]{{sfnp|Gardiner|1905|p=143}}
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   |
|- valign="center"
| rowspan="3", align= center | 1st<br />Division
| align= left   | [[French ship Northumberland (1780)|''Northumberland'']]
| align= center | [[74-gun|74]]
| align= left   | [[Antoine Cresp de Saint-Césaire|Cresp de Saint-Césaire]]{{sfnp|Naval History Division|1964|p=499}} {{KIA}}{{sfnp|Guérin|1863|p=149}}
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   | First officer Le Saige de La Mettrie killed. Ensign [[Marie-Gabriel de Gombaud de Roquebrune|Gombaud de Roquebrune]] assumed command.{{sfnp|Guérin|1863|p=149}}
|- valign="center"
<!--| rowspan="3", align= center | 1st<br />Division-->
| align= left   | [[French ship Auguste (1778)|''Auguste'']]
| align= center | [[80-gun|80]]
| align= left   | [[Louis Antoine de Bougainville|Bougainville]] ([[Chef d'escadre]])<br> [[Pierre-Joseph de Castellan|Castellan]] ([[flag captain]]){{sfnp|Contenson|1934|p=150}}
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   |
|- valign="center"
<!--| rowspan="3", align= center | 1st<br />Division-->
| align= left   | [[HMS Ardent (1764)|''Ardent'']]
| align= center | [[64-gun|64]]
| align= left   | [[Charles de Kermovan de Gouzillon|Gouzillon]] {{WIA}}{{sfnp|Contenson|1934|p=185}}
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   |Captured
|- valign="center"
| rowspan="3", align= center | 2nd<br />Division
| align= left   | [[French ship Scipion (1778)|''Scipion'']]
| align= center | [[74-gun|74]]
| align= left   | [[Antoine Pierre de Clavel|Clavel]]
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   |
|- valign="center"
<!--| rowspan="3", align= center | 2nd<br />Division -->
| align= left   | [[French ship Brave (1781)|''Brave'']]
| align= center | [[74-gun|74]]
| align= left   | [[Claude-François Renart d'Amblimont|Renart d'Amblimont]]{{sfnp|Vergé-Franceschi|2002|p=45}}
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   |
|- valign="center"
<!--| rowspan="3", align= center | 2nd<br />Division -->
| align= left   | [[French ship Citoyen (1764)|''Citoyen'']]
| align= center | [[74-gun|74]]
| align= left   | [[Alexandre de Thy|Thy]] {{WIA}}{{sfnp|Contenson|1934|p=270-71}}
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   |
|- valign="center"
!colspan="8" bgcolor="white"|Escadre blanche (Lieutenant-Général de Grasse)
|- valign="center"
| rowspan="3", align= center | 3rd<br />Division
| align= left   | [[French ship Hector (1756)|''Hector'']]
| align= center | [[74-gun|74]]
| align= left   | [[Claude Eugène Chauchouart de Lavicomté|Chauchouart de Lavicomté]] {{KIA}}{{sfnp|Guérin|1863|p=149}}{{sfnp|Marley|1998|p=522}}
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   | Captured. First officer [[Julien François de Beaumanoir|de Beaumanoir]] assumed command.{{sfnp|Guérin|1863|p=149}}
|- valign="center"
<!--| rowspan="3", align= center | 3rd<br />Division -->
| align= left   | [[French ship César (1768)|''César'']]
| align= center | [[74-gun|74]]
| align= left   | [[Augustin Etienne Gaspard Bernard de Marigny|Bernard de Marigny]]{{sfnp|Contenson|1934|p=221}} {{KIA}}{{sfnp|Guérin|1863|p=148}}
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   | Captured but destroyed. First officer [[Michel-George Laub|Laub]] assumed command.{{sfnp|Guérin|1863|p=148}}
|- valign="center"
<!--| rowspan="3", align= center | 3rd<br />Division -->
| align= left   | [[French ship Dauphin Royal (1738)|''Dauphin Royal'']]
| align= center | 70
| align= left   | [[Pierre de Roquefeuil-Montpéroux|Roquefeuil-Montpéroux]]
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   |
|- valign="center"
| rowspan="3", align= center | 1st<br />Division
| align= left   | [[French ship Languedoc (1766)|''Languedoc'']]
| align= center | [[80-gun|80]]
| align= left   | [[Jean-François d'Arros d'Argelos|Arros d'Argelos]]
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   |
|- valign="center"
<!--| rowspan="3", align= center | 1st<br />Division-->
| align= left   | [[French ship Ville de Paris (1764)|''Ville de Paris'']]
| align= center | 104
| align= left   | [[François Joseph Paul de Grasse|Grasse]] ([[Lieutenant général des armées navales|Lieutenant général]])<br />[[Pierre René Marie Vaugiraud de Rosnay|Vaugiraud]] (Major general){{WIA}}{{sfnp|Contenson|1934|p=277}}<br />[[Jean Baptiste François de La Villéon|Lavilléon]] ([[flag captain]])
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   | Captured
|- valign="center"
<!--| rowspan="3", align= center | 1st<br />Division-->
| align= left   | [[French ship Ça Ira (1781)|''Couronne'']]
| align= center | [[74-gun|74]]
| align= left   | [[Claude Mithon de Genouilly|Mithon de Genouilly]]
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   |
|- valign="center"
| rowspan="3", align= center | 2nd<br />Division
| align= left   | [[French ship Éveillé (1772)|''Éveillé'']]
| align= center | [[64-gun|64]]
| align= left   | [[Armand Le Gardeur de Tilly|Le Gardeur de Tilly]]
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   |
|- valign="center"
<!--| rowspan="3", align= center | 2nd<br />Division -->
| align= left   | [[French ship Sceptre (1780)|''Sceptre'']]
| align= center | [[74-gun|74]]
| align= left   | [[Louis de Rigaud de Vaudreuil]]{{sfnp|Contenson|1934|p=276}}
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   | [[Louis de Malet de Puyvallier|Malet de Puyvallier]] served aboard.<ref name=pensions>{{cite journal |title=Etat nominatif des pensions sur le trésor royal, troisième classe, en annexe de la séance du 21 avril 1790 |journal=Archives Parlementaires de la Révolution Française |date=1882 |volume=13 |issue=1 |page=488 |url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/arcpa_0000-0000_1882_num_13_1_6647_t1_0371_0000_1 |access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref>
|- valign="center"
<!--| rowspan="3", align= center | 2nd<br />Division -->
| align= left   | [[HMS Glorieux|''Glorieux'']]
| align= center | [[74-gun|74]]
| align= left   | [[Jacques François de Pérusse des Cars|Pérusse des Cars]]{{sfnp|Contenson|1934|p=150}} {{KIA}}{{sfnp|Gardiner|1905|p=142}}{{sfnp|Guérin|1863|p=148}}
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   | Captured. Lieutenant [[Jean-Honoré Trogoff de Kerlessy|Trogoff de Kerlessy]] assumed command.{{sfnp|Guérin|1863|p=148}}{{sfnp|Contenson|1934|p=193}}
|- valign="center"
!colspan="8" bgcolor="white"|Escadre blanche et bleue (Chef d'Escadre d'Espinouse){{sfnp|Troude|1867|p=140}}{{sfnp|Lacour-Gayet|1905|p=648}}
|- valign="center"
| rowspan="4", align= center   | 3rd<br />Division
| align= left   | [[French ship Diadème (1756)|''Diadème'']]
| align= center | [[74-gun|74]]
| align= left   | [[Louis Augustin de Monteclerc|Monteclerc]]{{sfnp|Contenson|1934|p=228}}
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   |
|- valign="center"
<!--| rowspan="4", align= center   | 3rd<br />Division -->
| align= left   | [[French ship Destin (1777)|''Destin'']]
| align= center | [[74-gun|74]]
| align= left   | [[François-Louis du Maitz de Goimpy|Dumaitz de Goimpy]]{{sfnp|Contenson|1934|p=219}}
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   |
|- valign="center"
<!--| rowspan="4", align= center   | 3rd<br />Division -->
| align= left   | [[French ship Magnanime (1779)|''Magnanime'']]
| align= center | [[74-gun|74]]
| align= left   | [[Jean Antoine Le Bègue de Germiny|Le Bègue de Germiny]] {{WIA}}{{sfnp|Contenson|1934|p=211}}
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   |
|- valign="center"
<!--| rowspan="4", align= center   | 3rd<br />Division -->
| align= left   | [[French ship Réfléchi (1776)|''Réfléchi'']]
| align= center | [[64-gun|64]]
| align= left   | [[Charles de Médine|Médine]]{{sfnp|Contenson|1934|p=222}}
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   |
|- valign="center"
| rowspan="4", align= center   | 1st<br />Division
| align= left   | [[French ship Conquérant (1746)|''Conquérant'']]
| align= center | [[74-gun|74]]
| align= left   | [[Charles-Marie de La Grandière|La Grandière]]{{sfnp|Contenson|1934|p=199}}
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   |
|- valign="center"
<!-- | rowspan="3", align= center   | 1stnd Division -->
| align= left   | [[French ship Magnifique (1749)|''Magnifique'']]
| align= center | [[74-gun|74]]
| align= left   | [[Jean-Baptiste de Macarty Macteigue|Macarty Macteigue]]
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   |
|- valign="center"
<!-- | rowspan="3", align= center   | 1stnd Division -->
| align= left   | [[French ship Le Triomphant (1778)|''Triomphant'']]
| align= center | [[80-gun|80]]
| align= left   | Marquis de [[Louis-Philippe de Vaudreuil|Vaudreuil]] ([[chef d'escadre]])<br />[[Jean-François du Cheyron du Pavillon|Cheyron du Pavillon]] ([[flag captain]])  {{DOW}}{{sfnp|Contenson|1934|p=241}}
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   |
|- valign="center"
<!-- | rowspan="3", align= center   | 1stnd Division -->
| align= left   | [[French ship Bourgogne (1766)|''Bourgogne'']]
| align= center | [[74-gun|74]]
| align= left   | [[Charles de Charritte|Charitte]]{{sfnp|Guérin|1863|p=148}}
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   |
|- valign="center"
| rowspan="3", align= center   | 2nd<br />Division
| align= left   | [[French ship Duc de Bourgogne (1751)|''Duc de Bourgogne'']]
| align= center | [[80-gun|80]]
| align= left   | [[Pierre Joseph François Samson de Champmartin|Champmartin]] ([[flag captain]]) {{WIA}}{{sfnp|Contenson|1934|p=155}}<br /> [[Charles Régis de Coriolis d'Espinouse|Coriolis d'Espinouse]] ([[chef d'escadre]]){{sfnp|Guérin|1863|p=148}}
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   |
|- valign="center"
<!--| rowspan="4", align= center   | 2nd<br />Division -->
| align= left   | [[French ship Vengeur du Peuple|''Marseillais'']]
| align= center | [[74-gun|74]]
| align= left   | [[Henri-César de Castellane-Majastre|Castellane Majastre]]{{sfnp|Guérin|1863|p=148}}
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   |
|- valign="center"
<!--| rowspan="4", align= center    | 2nd<br />Division -->
| align= left   | [[French ship Pluton (1778)|''Pluton'']]
| align= center | [[74-gun|74]]
| align= left   | [[François Hector d'Albert de Rions|Albert de Rions]]{{sfnp|Gardiner|1905|p=127}}{{sfnp|Guérin|1863|p=149}}
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= center |
| align= left   |
|-valign="top"
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Not in line: Frigates [[HMS Richmond (1757)|''Richemont'']] ([[Victurnien-Henri-Elzéar de Rochechouart de Mortemart|Mortemart]]); [[French frigate Amazone (1778)|''Amazone'']] (Ensign [[Charles Elzéar Bourgarel de Martignan|Bourgarel de Martignan]], acting captain replacing Montguyot); [[French frigate Aimable (1776)|''Aimable'']] (Lieutenant [[Jean Baptiste François de Suzannet|de Suzannet]]); [[French frigate Galathée (1779)|''Galathée'']] (Lieutenant [[Joachim de Roquart|de Roquart]]); corvette [[HMS Ceres (1777)|''Cérès'']] (Lieutenant [[Louis Jean Marie de Paroy|de Paroy]]); and cutter [[French cutter Clairvoyant (1780)|''Clairvoyant'']] (Ensign [[François Robert de Daché|de Daché]]);{{sfnp|Troude|1867|p=141}}{{sfnp|Marley|1998|p=141}} cutter [[French cutter Pandour (1780)|''Pandour'']] ([[Etienne Marc Antoine Joseph de Grasse-Limermont|Grasse-Limermont]]).{{sfnp|Contenson|1934|p=187}}

==In popular culture==
The battle is the subject of the title track on ''[[No Grave But the Sea]],'' the 2017 album by the Scottish "[[pirate metal]]" band [[Alestorm]]. The lyrics mention de Grasse, the British ships ''Duke'' and ''Bedford'', and the tactic of "breaking the line."<ref>{{cite web|title=Alestorm – No Grave but the Sea|url=http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107859547801|website=Song Meanings}}</ref>

The battle was the climax of the first written [[The Bolitho novels|Richard Bolitho novel]] by [[Douglas Reeman|Alexander Kent]].

The battle is featured in ''Le Dernier Panache'', a show in the [[Puy du Fou]], wherein the show's main character, [[François de Charette]], fights in the Battle of the Saintes. In the show and in reality he fought the battle as a [[lieutenant de vaisseau]].

In the verse epic ''[[Omeros]]'' by Nobel-prize-winning poet [[Derek Walcott]], which is set largely on [[St. Lucia]], the retired British officer Major Plunkett is researching the battle. Two chapters tell the story of his namesake Midshipman Plunkett, who dies in the battle.

== References ==
{{Commons category|Battle of the Saintes}}

===Footnotes===
{{reflist
| group = lower-alpha
| refs =
}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist|2}}

==Bibliography==
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* Playfair, John (1822). "On the Naval Tactics of the Late John Clerk, Esq. of Eldin." ''The Works of John Playfair'', Vol. III
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* {{cite book|last1=Trew|first1=Peter|title=Rodney and the Breaking of the Line|date=2006|publisher=Pen & Sword Military|isbn=9781844151431}}
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* {{cite book|last=Valin|first=Christopher J|title=Fortune's Favorite: Sir Charles Douglas and the Breaking of the Line|publisher=Fireship Press|year=2009|isbn=978-1-934757-72-7}}
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===Further reading===
* {{cite book |last=Hart |first=Francis Russell  |title=Admirals of the Caribbean |publisher=Boston Houghton Mifflin |year=1922 |isbn= |url=https://archive.org/details/admiralsofcaribb00hartuoft |ref=hart1922}}

==External links==
* {{cite EB1911|author=Hannay, David|wstitle=Saints, Battle of the|volume=24|pages=43–44}}
* {{cite web|last=Robinson|first=Ian M.|title=The Battle of the Saintes 12th April 1782|work=The Realm of Chance: warfare and the balance of power, 1618–1815|date=2009-12-03|url=http://iactaaleaest.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/the-battle-of-the-saintes-12th-april-1782/|access-date=2011-07-06}}

{{American Revolutionary War|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saintes, Battle of the}}
[[Category:Naval battles of the Anglo-French War (1778–1783)]]
[[Category:Naval battles of the American Revolutionary War involving Great Britain]]
[[Category:Naval battles of the American Revolutionary War involving France]]
[[Category:History of British Dominica]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1782]]
[[Category:1782 in the Caribbean]]
[[Category:History of Îles des Saintes]]