Capture of Demerara and Essequibo

Capture of Demerara and Essequibo Part of the American War of Independence Period map of the area Date 22 January 1782 Location Demerara and Essequibo, South America Result French victory, French occupation of Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice until the Treaty of Paris (1783)[1] Belligerents  France  Great Britain Commanders and leaders Armand of Kersaint Comte de Bouillé Gov. Robert Kingston (POW) Strength Frigate Iphigénie 4 Sloops 355 men from the 1st Legion Volontaires étranger de la Marine 28th Rgt.[2] Casualties and losses Unknown, Minimum 1 Sixth-rate[3] 2 Sloops[4] 3 brigantines[5] 28th Rgt. surrendered

American Revolutionary War: Caribbean theater 1st Nassau Barbados Dominica 1st St. Lucia 2nd St. Lucia Saint Vincent 1st Grenada 2nd Grenada Río Hondo Cayo Cocina San Fernando 12 December 1779 1st Martinique Guadeloupe 2nd Martinique Bermuda Fort San Juan Dutch West Indies Sint Eustatius Fort Royal Tobago Brimstone Hill Frigate Bay Demerara and Essequibo Montserrat Roatán The Saintes Mona Passage Black River 2nd Nassau 18 October 1782 6 December 1782 15 February 1783 17 February 1783 Turks and Caicos 3rd Nassau

The Capture of Demerara and Essequibo was a French military expedition sent in January 1782 as part of the American Revolutionary War. In 1781, the Dutch colonies of Essequibo and Demerara were captured by a British squadron of Admiral Lord Rodney's fleet; the French took possession of these settlements, compelling British Governor Robert Kinston to surrender.^[6] The peace of Paris, which occurred in 1783 restored these territories to the Dutch.^[7]

Background

In December 1780 Great Britain declared war on the Dutch Republic, bringing it formally into the American Revolutionary War. In early 1781 a large British fleet under Admiral Lord Rodney was sent to the West Indies, and after having made some seizures in the Caribbean Islands, a squadron was detached to take possession of the colonies of Essequebo and Demerara, which was accomplished without much difficulty.^[8] The governor Van Schuilenburg, having assembled his council and being aware of the want of Dutch protection, surrendered to the British, who upon taking possession found a rich booty; the quantity of produce which had accumulated from the want of shipping proving to be of great value.^[9]

French capture

French naval Captain Armand Guy Simon de Coëtnempren, Comte de Kersaint, with his 32-gun flagship Iphigénie and four lesser ships landed on Demerara without much opposition. France's detachments from the Regiment Armagnac, 335 men from the 1st Legion Volontaires étranger de la Marine, launched an assault against the British garrison compelling Governor Robert Kinston and his regiment to surrender. As a result, Essequebo and Berbice also surrendereed to the French on 1 and 5 February.^[10] Five Royal Navy auxiliaries were seized during this campaign: the 20-gun Orinoque of Commander William Tahourdin, 16-gun Barbuda of Commander Francis Pender, 18-gun Sylph of Commander Lawrence Graeme, 16-gun Stormont of Commander Christmas Paul, and 16-gun brig Rodney of Lieutenant John Douglas Brisbane.^[11]

Aftermath

The Count de Kersaint became governor of the three rivers and their settlements and inhabitants. To guarantee their conquest, the French began to erect forts at the mouth of the Demerara River, one on its eastern, the other on its western bank, and for that purpose compelled the planters to furnish slave labour; they like wise doubled the capitation-tax, all which innovation was severely felt by the colonists, who saw no end to their troubles. The peace of Paris, which occurred in 1783 restored these territories to the Dutch.^[12] When Demerara surrendered to the French, the British naval commander being at that place signed the capitulation. Gov. Kingston's proposals for terms contained the following rather singular proposition:

To this the following answer was returned:

Notes

References

• Dalton G. Henry. The History of British Guiana: Comprising a General Description of the Colony: A narrative of some of the principal events from the earliest period of products and natural history. Adamant Media Corporation *Hadden, James. Hadden's Journal and Orderly Books. Applewood Books publishing (2009) ISBN 1-4290-1685-X
• Cust, Edward (1862). Annals of the Wars of the Eighteenth Century, Compiled from the Most Authentic Histories of the Period 3. John Murray. 
• Chartrand, Rene. The French Army in the American War of Independence Osprey Publishing (1992) ISBN 1-85532-167-X
• Marley F. David. Wars of the Americas: A Chronology of Armed Conflict in the New World, 1492 to the Present. ABC-CLIO (1998) ISBN 0-87436-837-5

Coordinates: 6°48′N 58°10′W / 6.800°N 58.167°W / 6.800; -58.167