French privateers to direct engagement with an enemy naval squadron. Between 21 and 26 February 1760 a force of three French vessels, the 44-gun Maréchal de Belle-Isle, the 36-gun Blonde and the 30-gun Terpsichore, arrived off the coast of Ireland. Under the command of privateer François Thurot, they landed 600 French troops and captured the town of Carrickfergus. Thurot held the town for five days. Brilliant and her sister ship were in port at Kinsale in southern Ireland, and were sent north to intercept Thurot's force. While at sea they were joined by whose captain, John Elliott, assumed overall command of the squadron. The three Royal Navy frigates reached Dublin on the morning of 26 February but bad weather prevented them from entering Belfast Lough. On the same day, Thurot re-embarked his troops and put to sea, evading the British vessels and seeking to return south to France. After two days of searching, the three Royal Navy frigates encountered Thurot's forces at 4 a.m. on 28 February between the Mull of Galloway and the Isle of Man. A general chase ensued with Brilliant overhauling the 36-gun Blonde and engaging her in battle at around 9 a.m., off shore from Bishopscourt, Isle of Man. Blonde quickly surrendered, as did Terpsichore which had been fired upon by Pallas. Thurot's flagship Maréchal de Belle-Isle fought on alone against all three Royal Navy vessels, with her crew making repeated attempts to board and seize Aeolus. After ninety minutes of close combat Thurot was killed by a shot through the neck, and Maréchal de Belle-Isle was so battered from cannon fire that she began to sink. Her surviving crew surrendered and were taken prisoner. Brilliant, Pallas and Aeolus then anchored off the Isle of Man to repair damage to their rigging and masts before sailing for Portsmouth with their prizes. The French had suffered 300 casualties in the battle. A further 1000 men were taken prisoner, including both soldiers and crew. British casualties were small with Aeolus suffering four killed and 15 wounded; Pallas one killed and five wounded and Brilliant escaping with no deaths and 11 men wounded. Battle of Cape Finisterre On 14 August 1761, Brilliant was accompanying the 74-gun from Lisbon to England when they encountered Courageux, a 74-gun French ship of the line, and two frigates, Malicieuse and Hermione. After some maneuvering the British and French squadrons finally engaged with each