the French colonies for the remainder of the war by seizing and occupying them in a series of amphibious operations. Command of this campaign was given to Rear-Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, who focused his initial efforts on Martinique, gathering a substantial force of ships and men at Barbados in preparation for the planned invasion. While the main British forces concentrated in the Leeward Islands, smaller expeditionary forces were sent to watch other French colonies. French expeditions of resupply (1809) Invasion of Martinique Invasion of Guadeloupe Aftermath The fall of Guadeloupe marked the end of the final French territory in the Caribbean; the entire region was now in the hands of either the British or the Spanish, except the independent state of Haiti. The lack of French privateers and warships sparked a boom in trade operations, and the economies of the Caribbean islands experienced a resurgence. It also made a significant reduction in French international trade and had a corresponding effect on the French economy. Finally, the capture of the last French colony struck a decisive blow to the Atlantic slave trade, which had been made illegal by the British government in 1807 and was actively persecuted by the Royal Navy. Without French colonies in the Caribbean, there was no ready market for slaves in the region and the slave trade consequently dried up. Notes References History of the Caribbean Conflicts in 1804 Conflicts in 1805 Conflicts in 1806 Conflicts in 1807 Conflicts in 1808 Conflicts in 1809 Conflicts in 1810 Campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars Naval battles involving the United Kingdom Naval battles involving France Battles involving France Battles involving Spain Battles involving Portugal Battles involving the United Kingdom Battles of the Napoleonic Wars 19th-century history of the Royal Navy History of the French Navy Spanish West Indies 1804 in the Caribbean 1805 in the Caribbean 1806 in the Caribbean 1807 in the Caribbean 1808 in the Caribbean 1809 in the Caribbean 1810 in the Caribbean