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An incident from the five-day battle known as the 'Glorious First of June 1794', during the French Revolutionary War, 1793–1802, between the British fleet under Lord Howe and the French fleet under Rear-Admiral Villaret-Joyeuse. This was the first great fleet battle of the French Wars of 1793–1815. It took place in the Atlantic, 400miles west of Ushant, when the French were attempting to intercept and escort home a valuable grain fleet from America and the British were also attempting to prevent this by capturing as much as possible. The consequent French manoeuvres allowed the British three days to position their fleet for the main attack. Although Villaret-Joyeuse helped ensured the safe passage of the French grain convoy (which neither fleet sighted) by drawing off Howe, he also had to try and minimize damage to his warships.
The 'Defence', 74 guns, commanded by Captain James Gambier, was one of the most heavily engaged ships, and is shown demasted in the middle of the picture. It is firing into the French 'Achille', 74 guns, on the right of the picture, in starboard-quarter to stern view, which is returning her fire. The painting shows the ferocity of the action, with the deck and sides of the 'Defence' littered with broken spars and trailing rigging, the sails of the French ships holed and wreckage in the sea in the central foreground.
Title
The 'Defence' at the Battle of the First of June, 1794
Date
1811
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 35.5 x W 50.8 cm
Accession number
BHC0474
Acquisition method
National Maritime Museum (Greenwich Hospital Collection)
Work type
Painting
National Maritime Museum
Romney Road, Greenwich, London, Greater London SE10 9NF England
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