First battle of Cape Finisterre (1747)

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War of the Austrian Succession
Mollwitz – Chotusitz – Dettingen – Toulon – Fontenoy – Hohenfriedberg – Soor – Kesselsdorf – Rocoux – 1st Finisterre – Lauffeld – 2nd Finisterre – Havana

The First Battle of Cape Finisterre (14 May 1747^[1]) saw 14 British ships of the line under Admiral George Anson attack a French 30-ship convoy commanded by Admiral de la Jonquière during the War of the Austrian Succession. The British captured 4 ships of the line, 2 frigates and 7 merchantmen, in a five-hour battle in the Bay of Biscay off Cape Finisterre in northwest Spain. The other supply ships escaped.

Following his victory, Anson was promoted to Vice Admiral and raised to the peerage.

Another convoy action - the Second Battle of Cape Finisterre - followed that October.

Ships involved:

1 Britain (George Anson)
2 France (de la Jonquière)
3 Note
4 See also

[edit] Britain (George Anson)

Prince George 90 (flag)
Devonshire 66
Namur 74
Monmouth 64
Prince Frederick 64
Yarmouth 64
Princess Louisa 60
Nottingham 60
Defiance 60
Pembroke 60
Windsoe 60
Centurion 50
Falkland 50
Bristol 50
Ambuscade 40
Falcon 10
Vulcan 8 (fireship)

[edit] France (de la Jonquière)

Diamant* 30/56 - Captured, sunk later
Philibert* 30 - Captured
Vigilant* 20 - Captured
Chimère 36
Rubis 52 - Captured
Jason 50 - Captured
Sérieux 64 (flag) - Captured
Invincible 74 - Captured
Apollon* 30 - Captured
Thétis* 22 - Captured
Modeste* 18 - Captured
Gloire 40 - Captured
Emeraude 40
Dartmouth* 18 (ex-British privateer) - Captured
convoy of 24 ships or fewer - 6 captured