Battle of Groix

23 June 1795, Off the Île de Groix, Brittany

British victory; three French ships taken

A week after Cornwallis had held off Villaret's fleet in his famous retreat, Lord Bridport's Channel Fleet, covering the landing of French royalists at Quiberon, came on Villaret again off Belle Île. The French ran for Lorient, and Bridport made the signal for a general chase. Early on 23 June the fastest British ships caught the stragglers off the Île de Groix. Alexandre, captured from the British the previous winter, was retaken, and Formidable, set on fire, and Tigre struck. Bridport called off the chase within sight of the shore batteries and the rest of the French fleet got into Lorient. The British were criticised for not doing more, but the Brest fleet was badly shaken; several French captains were court-martialled for not supporting the ships that were lost.