Invasion of Martinique (1809) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Invasion of Martinique
Part of the Napoleonic Wars
The Taking of the French Island of Martinique in the French West Indies on Feb 24th 1809, George Thompson
Date 30 January – 24 February 1809 Location Martinique Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	France
Commanders and leaders
Alexander Cochrane George Beckwith	Villaret de Joyeuse
Strength
10,000 6 ships of the line 8 frigates 9 brigs	4,900 3 brigs
Casualties and losses
97 killed 365 wounded 18 missing	900 killed, wounded and missing

The invasion of Martinique was a successful attack by the British against the French island of Martinique. This happened between January 30 and February 24, 1809. It was part of the Napoleonic Wars, a big conflict between France and many European countries.

Martinique was a French colony in the West Indies. It was a problem for Britain because French ships and privateers (private ships allowed to attack enemy ships) used it as a base. From there, they could attack British merchant ships, which were important for Britain's economy.

To stop these attacks, the British decided to take control of Martinique. They gathered a large force of 29 ships and 10,000 soldiers. This was much more than the French had on the island.

British troops landed on both the north and south coasts of Martinique. They quickly moved inland, defeating French soldiers and local fighters. By February 9, most of the island was under British control. Only Fort Desaix, a strong fort protecting the capital Fort-de-France, remained.

The British then surrounded Fort Desaix and attacked it for 15 days. The French soldiers inside suffered many injuries. Finally, they surrendered. Taking Martinique was a big win for Britain. It weakened France's power in the Caribbean.

Why Did the British Invade Martinique?

During the Napoleonic Wars, the British Royal Navy worked hard to stop French ships. They blocked French ports like Toulon and Brest. This made it hard for French colonies, like those in the West Indies, to get supplies or send their goods to France.

These French islands were also good places for French ships to attack British trade routes. Britain had captured Martinique before, in 1762 and 1794. By 1808, most of the French navy was stuck in port. This was after a big defeat at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

Map of Martinique. British forces landed on the southern, southwestern, and northern coasts.

With the French navy mostly out of the way, Britain could attack French colonies directly. In 1804, Haiti became independent with British help. In 1806, Britain took control of parts of South America from the Dutch. In 1807, they invaded the Danish West Indies.

The economy of Martinique suffered greatly during this time. British ships often raided its towns and shipping. This made people on the island unhappy, especially the recently freed black population. The island's governor, Vice-Admiral Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse, sent urgent messages to France asking for help.

Some of these messages were caught by British ships. The British learned that morale was low on Martinique. So, the British Admiralty ordered their commander in the West Indian Station, Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, to prepare an invasion.

Preparing for the Invasion

In late 1808 and early 1809, Sir Alexander Cochrane gathered his forces. He met his ships off Carlisle Bay, Barbados. He had 29 ships and 10,000 soldiers. Lieutenant-General George Beckwith led the soldiers.

They planned to land on the southern and northern coasts of Martinique. Their goal was to meet up at the capital, Fort-de-France. The Royal Navy would support the soldiers from the sea. Beckwith's army was more than twice the size of the French forces on Martinique. Half of the French force was made up of untrained local fighters.

France also knew that Martinique's defenses were weak. They tried to send help and food supplies. But many of these ships were captured by the British. For example, HMS Circe captured the French ship Palinure in October 1808. Only one French ship, the frigate Amphitrite, managed to reach Martinique with some supplies. But this was not enough to make a difference.

The Invasion of Martinique

Cochrane's fleet left Carlisle Bay on January 28. They arrived off Martinique on January 30. The invasion began that same morning.

The British forces split into two main groups. About 3,000 soldiers landed at Sainte-Luce on the southern coast. Major-General Frederick Maitland led them. Another 6,500 soldiers landed at Le Robert on the northern coast. Major-General Sir George Prevost led this group.

Lieutenant-General Beckwith stayed on Cochrane's main ship, HMS Neptune. He directed the whole campaign from there. A smaller group of 600 soldiers landed near Les Anses-d'Arlet. Their job was to secure the entrance to Fort-de-France Bay.

British Advance and French Resistance

On the first day, the two main British forces moved quickly inland. The local French fighters sent to stop them often ran away. Serious fighting began on February 1. French defenders on the high ground of Desfourneaux and Surirey fought Prevost's troops.

The fighting was tough for two days. The French were outnumbered but used their strong positions to hold back the British. The British lost 84 killed and 334 wounded. The French lost over 700. By February 3, the French had to retreat to Fort Desaix.

At Cape Salomon, the British also made progress. The French defenders panicked and burned their ship, Carnation. They then retreated to a small island nearby. British soldiers, helped by the navy, set up cannons on the coast. By February 4, they had forced the island to surrender. This opened the main harbor of Martinique to British ships.

On February 5, a small group of British ships entered Fort-de-France Bay. This caused panic among the French. They set fire to their ships and abandoned the forts in the southern part of the island.

By February 8, Maitland's force reached the western side of Fort Desaix and began to surround it. Other British groups captured Saint-Pierre and Fort-de-France. By February 10, Fort Desaix was the only place still fighting.

The Siege of Fort Desaix

For nine days, British soldiers and sailors built gun batteries and trenches around Fort Desaix. They brought in many supplies and equipment for a long siege.

On February 19, the attack began. Fourteen heavy cannons and 28 mortars fired constantly at the fort. This attack lasted for four days. The French soldiers inside the crowded fort suffered greatly. About 200 were killed or wounded.

The British had very few casualties. On February 23, the French governor, Villaret de Joyeuse, sent a message offering to surrender. But the terms were not acceptable to Beckwith. So, the bombing started again.

It continued until the next morning, February 24. Then, three white flags were raised over the fort. The French admiral surrendered completely. The bombing had cracked the roof of the fort's gunpowder storage. There was a fear that more shelling could blow up the entire building.

What Happened After the Invasion?

After Fort Desaix surrendered, the British took full control of Martinique. They seized all remaining ships and military supplies. The French soldiers became prisoners of war. The local fighters were sent home.

Martinique became a British colony. It stayed under British rule until 1814, when it was given back to France. The British had 97 killed, 365 wounded, and 18 missing. The French lost at least 900 soldiers, mostly during the fighting in the central highlands and the siege of Fort Desaix.

In Britain, both parts of the government thanked Cochrane and Beckwith for their victory. They immediately started planning to invade Guadeloupe, another French island. This happened in January 1810.

Soldiers and sailors who took part in the invasion received rewards. Years later, in 1816, the battle honor Martinique was given to the ships and regiments involved. This was to remember their bravery.

The French tried to send more ships and soldiers to Martinique in February 1809. But they arrived too late. They learned that Martinique had surrendered and took shelter in the Îles des Saintes. British ships then blocked them there.

On April 14, the British captured the Saintes. The French ships tried to escape. One French ship, D'Hautpoul, was chased and captured. Two other French ships escaped, and two frigates reached Guadeloupe. However, none of these ships ever returned to France.

Images for kids

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  Sir George Prévost with a sword given to him for his victory at Martinique.

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  Portrait miniature of George Beckwith, 1809, painted by Charlotte Martner [fr], an artist from Fort-de-France.

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  Invasion of Martinique (1809) Monument, St. George's (Round) Church, Halifax, Nova Scotia.