Battle of Beachy Head (1690)

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For other uses, see Battle of Beachy Head.

Battle of Beachy Head

17th-century print of the Battle of Beachy Head.

Date	10 July 1690
Location	near Eastbourne, England
Result	French victory

Combatants

France

England
Dutch Republic

Commanders

Anne Hilarion de Tourville

Earl of Torrington

Strength

75 ships

56 ships

Casualties

311 dead
811 wounded

7 ships lost

War of the Grand Alliance
Walcourt – Fleurus – Beachy Head – Staffarda – Cuneo – Leuze – Barfleur-La Hogue – 1st Namur – Steenkirk – Landen – Marsaglia – Charleroi – Torroella – 2nd Namur – Barcelona

The naval Battle of Beachy Head or Bataille de Bévezier (French) took place on 10 July 1690 near Beachy Head, a promontory near Eastbourne, on the coast of East Sussex, England in the War of the Grand Alliance; The battle was fought between an Anglo-Dutch fleet under the Earl of Torrington with 56 vessels of which 22 Dutch formed the van under Cornelis Evertsen. Vice Admiral Sir Ralph Delavall commanded the 12-ship strong rear, and a French fleet under the Comte Anne Hilarion de Tourville Chateau-Renault (van) and d'Estrèes (rear) with seventy ships of the line and five frigates in ten kilometre lines with the largest in the middle.

Although the French won, they failed to exploit their victory over the damaged opponent to deal a decisive blow to Anglo-Dutch seapower. Torrington, meanwhile, was court-martialed for failing to support the Dutch and retreating but, arguing that his action prevented an invasion, was acquitted.

Those fleets were to fight again at the Battle of La Hougue.