Battle of San Domingo

6 February 1806, Off Santo Domingo, Hispaniola

British victory; the whole French squadron taken or destroyed

Two French squadrons got out of Brest in December 1805 to raid British trade. Vice-Admiral Leissègues took five ships of the line to Santo Domingo to land troops. Sir John Duckworth, who had left his station off Cádiz to chase the other squadron, followed him to the West Indies and found him anchored off the town. The French cut their cables and ran west along the coast, and Duckworth caught them within two hours. Alexandre, Brave and Jupiter were taken. The great three-decker Impérial and Diomède were run ashore at Nizao to escape capture and burned by British boats two days later. The British lost no ship. Duckworth's disobedience in leaving his station was forgiven.