British Admiral Thomas Mathews in 1742 had …
Years: 1744 - 1744
March
British Admiral Thomas Mathews in 1742 had sent a small squadron to Naples to compel King Charles, later the King of Spain, to remain neutral.
It was commanded by Commodore William Martin, who refused to enter into negotiations, and gave the king half an hour in which to return an answer.
The Neapolitans were forced to agree to the British demands.
In June of that year, a squadron of Spanish galleys, which had taken refuge in the Bay of Saint Tropez, had been burnt by the fire ships of Mathews' fleet.
A Spanish squadron has meanwhile taken refuge in Toulon, and is watched by the British fleet from Hyeres.
The Spaniards on February 21, 1744 (N.S., 10 February O.S.) put to sea in company with a French force.Mathews, who had now returned to his flagship, follows, and an confused engagement takes place on February 22, in which the Bourbon navies defeat the British off the coast of Toulon.
The Spanish, still on the defensive after a day of fighting, neglecte to capture the defenseless Marlborough, though they retake the Poder, which had previously surrendered to the British.
The Franco-Spanish fleet now resumes their flight to the southwest, and it is not until February 23 that the British are able to regroup and resume the pursuit.
They again catch up with the enemy fleet, which is hampered by towing damaged ships, and the unmaneuverable Poder is abandoned and scuttled by the French.
The British have by now closed to within a few miles of the enemy fleet, but Mathews again signals for the fleet to come to.
The Franco-Spanish fleet is almost out of sight on the following day, February 24, and Mathews returns to Hyeres, sailing thence to Port Mahon, where he arrives in early March.
Locations
People
Groups
- Austria, Archduchy of
- France, (Bourbon) Kingdom of
- Spain, Bourbon Kingdom of
- Britain, Kingdom of Great
- Sardinia, Kingdom of (Savoy)
