Come and ask, answer or inform.
On the 6th June, 1755, near the entrance to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, [Boscawen's British squadron happened] to fall in with four sail of the line, which had parted from M. de la Motte in a gale of wind, he chased them for two days. On the 8th at noon, the Dunkirk, Captain the Hon. Richard Howe, having arrived up with the sternmost French ship, the Alcide, 64, it may be said declared war; for, after some little preliminary hailing, he opened so furious a cannonade, that on the approach of the Torbay, the French ship struck her colours.
A second ship—the Lys, 64—en-flute, was also captured; but a fog shortly afterwards came on, and the third escaped. Thus was this war, commonly called in history "The Seven Years' War" commenced.
Great Britain (Royal Navy) - The Hon. Edward Boscawen (1711-1761) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| British Squadron | |||
| Ship Name | Commander | Notes | |
| Name : Torbay (74) | Charles Colby (c.1701-1771) | Squadron Flagship | |
| Name : Fougueux (64) | Richard Spry (1715-1775) | ||
| Name : Dunkirk (60) | Richard Howe (1725/26-1799) | ||
| Name : Defiance (60) | Thomas Andrews (d.1756) | ||
Royaume de France (Marine Royale) | |||
| French Vessels | |||
| Ship Name | Commander | Notes | |
| Name : L'Alcide (64) | Captured | ||
| Name : Le Lys (64) | Captured Armed en-flute with 22 guns. | ||
| Name : Le Dauphin Royal (74) | Armed en-flute with 24 guns. | ||