Battle of Toulon

22 February 1744, Off Cape Sicié, near Toulon

Indecisive; the British blockade lifted

A Spanish squadron under Admiral Navarro had been blockaded in Toulon for two years by the British Mediterranean fleet. When it came out with a French squadron under La Bruyère de Court, Admiral Thomas Mathews went after them, but his fleet was strung out and his second, Vice-Admiral Richard Lestock, with whom he was not on speaking terms, kept the rear division out of the battle. Mathews hoisted the signal for the line of battle and the signal to engage together, and many captains, confused, did nothing. Mathews and a few ships attacked the Spanish rear; Navarro's flagship Real Felipe was surrounded and badly damaged, and Poder was taken. But the French came back to cover the Spaniards, and the allied fleet got away to Spain. The courts martial that followed dismissed Mathews, acquitted Lestock and cashiered seven captains, and made captains afraid ever after to break the line.