Action of 18 June 1793 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Action of 18 June 1793 |
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| Part of the French Revolutionary Wars | |||||||
 Nymphe and Cleopatre, Nicholas Pocock |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Great Britain |
 France |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Edward Pellew |
 Jean Mullon † |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 1 frigate | 1 frigate | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 50 killed and wounded | 63 killed and wounded 1 frigate captured |
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The Action of 18 June 1793 was a famous naval battle during the French Revolutionary Wars. It happened near Start Point in England. A British ship called HMS Nymphe fought a French ship named Cléopâtre.
Before this battle, Cléopâtre and another French ship, Sémillante, had been attacking British merchant ships. They were based in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France. To stop them, the British sent HMS Nymphe and HMS Venus. On June 18, 1793, Captain Edward Pellew of Nymphe found Cléopâtre. The French ship, led by Captain Jean Mullon, first tried to escape. But then, it turned to fight.
The battle lasted about 50 minutes. Both ships fought hard. Finally, the British crew boarded the French ship and captured it. Captain Mullon was badly hurt and died. The French lost 63 people, while the British lost 50. Captain Pellew returned to Britain with the captured ship. He was seen as a hero. This was the first major French warship captured by the British in the war.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
War Breaks Out
In 1793, the French Republic declared war on Great Britain. This was part of the bigger French Revolutionary Wars. The British Royal Navy had been getting ready for war. They had many ships in the English Channel and North Sea. Their job was to protect British trade ships.
The French Navy faced problems after the French Revolution. Many experienced officers had left. This meant they had fewer skilled sailors and fighters. To make up for this, the French used fast ships called frigates. These ships would attack British trade vessels.
French Raider Ships
Two successful French frigates were Cléopâtre and Sémillante. They were based in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. To fight them, the Royal Navy sent HMS Venus and HMS Nymphe. Captain Edward Pellew commanded Nymphe. He was a very experienced officer. His younger brother, Israel Pellew, also served on Nymphe as a volunteer.
The First Fight: May 27, 1793
On May 27, 1793, HMS Venus spotted Sémillante. The French ship was larger and had more guns. Even so, Captain Jonathan Faulknor of Venus decided to fight. The battle lasted two hours. Sémillante was badly damaged and tried to get away.
Then, another French ship appeared. It was Cléopâtre. Captain Faulknor knew he couldn't fight two ships. So, Venus escaped. The British ships then followed the French ships. They chased them into Cherbourg. This fight badly damaged Sémillante. It had to stay in port for repairs. This left Cléopâtre to continue raiding alone.
The Main Battle
Hunting Cléopâtre
After escorting the damaged Venus back to port, Captain Pellew set sail again. He was looking for Cléopâtre. On June 18, 1793, at 3:30 AM, his lookout spotted a ship. It was Cléopâtre, sailing from Saint-Malo.
Captain Mullon of Cléopâtre first tried to escape. He raised all his sails. But Nymphe was faster. By 5:00 AM, it was clear Nymphe would catch up. Mullon then prepared for battle.
Ships Face Off
At 6:00 AM, Nymphe was close enough. Captain Mullon called out to the British ship. Accounts differ on what Captain Pellew said back. But his crew cheered loudly, shouting "Long live King George!" The French crew replied with "Vive la nation!" or "Vive la république!" One French sailor even tied his captain's cap of liberty to the mast. This was a sign of defiance.
Fierce Fighting
At 6:15 AM, Nymphe opened fire. Both ships fired their cannons at each other. They fought very closely for about fifteen minutes. At 6:30 AM, the French ship suddenly turned. This allowed Nymphe to get even closer.
By 7:00 AM, the French ship's steering wheel was destroyed. Four helmsmen were killed. The mizzenmast (a mast at the back of the ship) was broken. This damage made Cléopâtre swing wildly. Its jib boom (a spar at the front) got caught in Nymphe's mainmast.
Boarding the Enemy
Captain Mullon ordered his crew to attack Nymphe. But they refused. As they hesitated, Cléopâtre swung alongside Nymphe. The British continued firing their cannons. British sailors worked to free their ship from the tangled rigging. Captain Pellew offered a reward to the man who could separate the ships.
Pellew had prepared his men to defend against a French attack. But when he saw the French were not attacking, he changed his orders. He told his men to board Cléopâtre instead. British sailors climbed onto the French ship. They went through gunports and even jumped from their own rigging.
Victory for Britain
The hand-to-hand fighting lasted only ten minutes. The French sailors, without a clear leader, gave up. The British boarding party pulled down the French flag. This meant the battle was over. Captain Pellew later wrote, "We dished her up in fifty minutes, boarded and took her."
On the deck, they found Captain Mullon. He was dying from a cannonball wound. He tried to destroy his secret coastal codes by tearing them with his teeth. But he accidentally destroyed his captain's papers instead. The codes were later found on his body.
The French lost 63 men, including Captain Mullon. His three lieutenants were wounded. Nymphe also had many casualties, with 23 killed and 27 wounded. The captured French sailors were taken aboard Nymphe. The two ships then sailed together to Portsmouth. They arrived on June 21.
After the Battle
A Hero's Welcome
The capture of Cléopâtre was a huge celebration in Britain. It was the first major French warship taken during the war. King George himself announced the news. Many pictures of the battle were quickly made.
Both Pellew brothers met King George. Edward Pellew was made a knight. His brother Israel was promoted to post captain. Other officers were also praised and promoted.
New Life for Cléopâtre
Cléopâtre was bought by the Royal Navy. It was renamed HMS Oiseau. The name Cleopatra was already in use for another British ship. The prize money from the capture was a large sum. It was shared among Pellew and his crew. The ship remained in service for 23 years. It was sold in 1816.
Lasting Impact
Sir Edward Pellew went on to command other ships. He captured more French frigates. He also destroyed a large French warship called Droits de l'Homme. He became a commander in the Mediterranean. Israel Pellew also became famous. He captured the French flagship Bucentaure at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
Historian William James noted that Nymphe was a bit heavier. But the French ship had more crew members. Many of Pellew's crew were new sailors. This should have given the French an advantage. But the loss of their officers and many casualties led to their defeat. Both sides fought bravely. Pellew was so impressed by Captain Mullon that he attended his funeral. He also sent money to Mullon's widow.
More than 50 years later, this battle was still remembered. British sailors who fought on Nymphe could receive a special medal. It was called the Naval General Service Medal.
