Battle of Martinique (1794)
Introduction The '''Battle of Martinique''' was a successful British invasion of the French colony of Martinique in the West Indies during the French Revolutionary Wars. They continued to occupy the island until 1802, when the Treaty of Amiens restored it to French control.
Background Prior to the invasion, war had broken out between the French Republic and Great Britain. The British government was contacted by French planter Louis-François Dubuc, who wished to place Martinique under British protection as the Republic's National Constituent Assembly was about to pass legislation which would abolish slavery in the French colonial empire; the legislation was passed the day before the British invasion of Martinique commenced. Fourteen days later, the British signed the Whitehall Accord on 9 February with counter-revolutionary French planters, which allowed them to keep their chattel property.
Invasion On 5 February, a British fleet under the command of Royal Navy Admiral Sir John Jervis landed troops under the command of Sir Charles Grey on the island, which proceeded to capture the island from the Republicans in concert with French planters.By 20 March, only Fort Bourbon and Fort Royal remained under Republican control. Jervis ordered the fourth-rate ship of the line HMS ''Asia'', and the sloop, HMS ''Zebra'' to capture Fort Saint Louis. ''HMS Asia'' was unable to get close to the fort and ''Zebra'' went in alone, with her captain, Richard Faulknor. Despite facing heavy Republican artillery fire, Faulknor ran ''Zebra'' close under the walls. He and his ship's company then used ''Zebra''s boats to land. The British stormed the fort and captured it. ''Zebra'' lost only her pilot killed and four men wounded. Meanwhile, the remainder of the British fleet captured Fort Royal and two days later Fort Bourbon capitulated.
Aftermath The Governor General of Martinique at the time, Donatien-Marie-Joseph de Vimeur, surrendered to Grey. The British then occupied Martinique until the Treaty of Amiens returned the island to the French in 1802.
Citations
References * Fortescue, John. ''A history of the British Army'', Volume 4*