Capture of Vigilant facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Capture of Vigilant
Part of the King George's War
Edward Tyng
Date 18–20 May 1745 Location off Fortress Louisbourg Result British victory
Belligerents
Great Britain	France
Commanders and leaders
Peter Warren Edward Tyng	Marquis de la Maisonfort
Strength
5 ships of the line	1 ship of the line; 500 men
Casualties and losses
6 wounded (including Tyng)	1 ship of the line captured 35 killed & 26 wounded 100 prisoners

The French ship Vigilant in 1745, after it was captured by the British.

The Capture of Vigilant was an important naval battle that happened in May 1745. It was part of a bigger conflict called King George's War. During this event, British warships fought against a French ship named Vigilant near Louisbourg. The British managed to capture the French ship, which was a big win for them.

The Battle for Vigilant

The battle took place off the coast of Louisbourg, a strong French fort. The British fleet was led by Commodore Peter Warren. His fleet included several ships: HMS Superb (with 60 cannons), HMS Eltham (40 cannons), HMS Launceston, HMS Mermaid, and HMS Shirley Galley. They faced the French ship Vigilant, which had 64 cannons and was commanded by the Marquis de la Maisonfort.

First Shots Fired

The fight began when Captain John Rous of HMS Shirley Galley fired first. He aimed several "broadsides" at the Vigilant. A broadside means firing all the cannons on one side of the ship at the same time. These shots hit the French ship's rear. Captain Durell, commanding HMS Eltham, then also fired a broadside.

Intense Fighting and Fog

Captain Douglas, on HMS Mermaid, joined the fight and engaged the French ship directly. Commodore Warren's ship, HMS Superb, also got close to the Vigilant. Both sides fired their cannons fiercely. The British ships caused a lot of damage to the Vigilant's rigging and sails. These are the ropes and canvas that help a ship move.

Suddenly, a thick fog rolled in. This made it hard to see, and the Vigilant managed to slip away from the British ships.

The Capture

The next morning, the Vigilant was spotted again. It was clear that the ship was badly damaged from the battle. The British quickly moved in and captured it. They took about 100 French sailors as prisoners. These prisoners were then taken to Boston. This capture was a significant victory for the British during King George's War.