The Capture of Gorée occurred in December 1758 when a British naval expedition led by Augustus Keppel against the French island of Gorée off the coast of Senegal during the Seven Years' War.[1] Keppel bombarded the fortress and then landed his marines to take possession. The French commander, Blaise Estoupan de Saint-Jean surrendered the fortress and the island. The 300-man garrison became prisoners of war, and 110 guns and mortars were captured.[2][user-generated source]
Capture of Gorée | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of Seven Years' War | |||||||
The reduction of Gorée, Dominic Serres | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Great Britain | France | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Augustus Keppel | Blaise de Saint-Jean | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
11 warships | 300 | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
None | 300 captured |
The island was occupied by the British until 1763 when it was returned following the Treaty of Paris.
References
edit- ^ McLynn p.99-100
- ^ "1758 - British expedition against Gorée in Senegal". Kronoskaf. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
Bibliography
edit- Anderson, Fred (2000). Crucible of War: The Seven Years' War and the fate of Empire in British North America, 1754–1766. Faber and Faber.
- Brown, Peter Douglas (1978). William Pitt, Earl of Chatham: The Great Commoner. George Allen & Unwin.
- Dull, Jonathan R. (2005). The French Navy and the Seven Years' War. University of Nebraska.
- McLynn, Frank (2005). 1759: The Year Britain Became Master of the World. Pimlico.
- Simms, Brendan (2008). Three Victories and a Defeat: The Rise and Fall of the First British Empire. Penguin Books.