Home > Oxford Dictionary of World History > Saintes, Les, Battle of

• Oxford Dictionary of World History
• About
• Get help in the History Group

Saintes, Les, Battle of

Saintes, Les, Battle of ( 1782 )
A Caribbean naval battle fought off the coast of Dominica, between a British fleet under Rodney and a French fleet under de Grasse. Five French ships were captured and one sunk. The engagement was notable because Rodney, taking advantage of the wind, broke the French line in two places, a manoeuvre later perfected by Nelson . This victory somewhat offset the British defeat in the American War of Independence and re-established Britain's maritime supremacy.

Oxford University Press Titles