Battle of Martinique (1794)

For other attacks on the island, see Battle of Martinique.

The Battle of Martinique was a successful British invasion of the French colony of Martinique in the West Indies during the French Revolutionary Wars. They continued to occupy the island until 1802, when the Treaty of Amiens restored it to French control.

Battle of Martinique
Part of the War of the First Coalition
'The Capture of Fort Saint Louis, Martinique, 20 March 1794' painting by William Anderson
Date 5 February – 24 March 1794 Location Martinique 14°40′N 61°0′W Result British victory Occupation of Martinique until 1802
Belligerents
Great Britain	French Republic
Commanders and leaders
John Jervis Charles Grey	Donatien-Marie-Joseph de Vimeur
Strength
6,000 men 3 ships of the line 5 Frigates	900 troops or militia
class=notpageimage| Location within Caribbean Battle of Martinique (1794) (South America)

Background

Prior to the invasion, war had broken out between the French Republic and Great Britain. The British government was contacted by French planter Louis-François Dubuc, who wished to place Martinique under British protection as the Republic's National Constituent Assembly was about to pass legislation which would abolish slavery in the French colonial empire; the legislation was passed the day before the British invasion of Martinique commenced. Fourteen days later, the British signed the Whitehall Accord on 9 February with counter-revolutionary French planters, which allowed them to keep their chattel property.

Invasion

On 5 February, a British fleet under the command of Royal Navy Admiral Sir John Jervis landed troops under the command of Sir Charles Grey on the island, which proceeded to capture the island from the Republicans in concert with French planters.

By 20 March, only Fort Bourbon and Fort Royal remained under Republican control. Jervis ordered the fourth-rate ship of the line HMS Asia, and the sloop, HMS Zebra to capture Fort Saint Louis. HMS Asia was unable to get close to the fort and Zebra went in alone, with her captain, Richard Faulknor. Despite facing heavy Republican artillery fire, Faulknor ran Zebra close under the walls. He and his ship's company then used Zebra's boats to land. The British stormed the fort and captured it. Zebra lost only her pilot killed and four men wounded. Meanwhile, the remainder of the British fleet captured Fort Royal and two days later Fort Bourbon capitulated.

Aftermath

The Governor General of Martinique at the time, Donatien-Marie-Joseph de Vimeur, surrendered to Grey. The British then occupied Martinique until the Treaty of Amiens returned the island to the French in 1802.

References

• Fortescue, John. A history of the British Army, Volume 4
• James, William (1837) [1827]. The Naval History of Great Britain, Volume I, 1793–1796. London: Richard Bentley. OCLC 634321885.