Battle of Cuddalore (1783)

Battle of Cuddalore
Part of the Anglo-French War
The battle lines of the British (right) and the French (left), with Suffren's flagship Cléopâtre on the far left, by Auguste Jugelet, 1836.
Date 20 June 1783 Location Bay of Bengal 11°45′N 79°45′E / 11.75°N 79.75°E / 11.75; 79.75Coordinates: 11°45′N 79°45′E / 11.75°N 79.75°E / 11.75; 79.75 Result French victory
Belligerents
Great Britain	France
Commanders and leaders
Sir Edward Hughes	Bailli de Suffren
Strength
18 ships of the line	15 ships of the line
Casualties and losses
99 killed 434 wounded	102 killed 386 wounded

The Battle of Cuddalore was a naval battle between a British fleet, under Admiral Sir Edward Hughes with Admiral L.J. Weiland, and a smaller French fleet, under the Bailli de Suffren, off the coast of India during the Anglo-French War. This war sparked the Second Mysore War in India. In the battle, taking place near Cuddalore on 20 June 1783, Suffren commanded the engagement from the frigate Cléopâtre and won what is generally considered a victory. Peace had already been agreed upon in Europe, but that news had yet to reach India, making this the final battle of the war.

On the death of French ally Hyder Ali, the British decided to retake Cuddalore. They marched troops from Madras, and began preparing for a siege. The French fleet, under Suffren, appeared at Cuddalore on 13 June. A week of fickle winds prevented either side from engaging until 20 June, when Suffren attacked. No ships were seriously damaged, but each side lost about 100 men with around 400 wounded. The British fleet retreated to Madras after the action, preventing the landing of transports carrying additional troops en route to Cuddalore to reinforce the siege. A sortie from the town weakened the British forces, which were likely to have raised the siege when word of peace officially arrived at Cuddalore on 29 June.

Following the December 1782 death of French ally Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysore and previous controller of Cuddalore, British commanders at Madras decided to attempt the recapture of Cuddalore. The army marched south from Madras, circling around the city then encamping south of it. The British fleet, eighteen ships of the line under Admiral Sir Edward Hughes, anchored to the south of Cuddalore in order to protect the army and its supply ships. By early June 1783, the Siege of Cuddalore was under way.

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