Capture of Grenada (1779)

Capture of Grenada
Part of the American Revolutionary War
View of the French assault on the island of Grenada, July 4, 1779. Prise de l'île de la Grenade, 4 juillet 1779 by Jean-François Hue
Date 2–4 July 1779 Location Grenada, West Indies Result French victory
Belligerents
France	Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Comte D'Estaing	Lord Macartney (POW)
Strength
2,100 men 25 ships of the line	125 regulars 436 militia and volunteers
Casualties and losses
114 killed 200 wounded	about 700 prisoners 118 artillery pieces 30 merchantmen

The Capture of Grenada was an amphibious expedition by France that took place in July 1779 during the American Revolutionary War. Charles Hector, comte D'Estaing, led French forces against the British-held West Indies island of Grenada. The French landed on July 2 and the assault lasted through July 4. The French forces assaulted the British fortifications on Hospital Hill, which overlooked the island's capital, Saint George's. British cannons on the hill were captured and turned against Fort George. British Governor Lord Macartney opened negotiations to surrender.

Admiral d'Estaing controversially rejected Macartney's terms of capitulation, insisting he instead adopt the harsh terms he had written. Macartney rejected these terms, choosing to surrender unconditionally. D'Estaing thereafter permitted his forces to loot the town, and Macartney was sent to France as a prisoner of war.

On July 5, French forces re-embarked when word arrived that a British fleet under Admiral John Byron was approaching. The two fleets battled the next day. The French severely damaged several British ships, but eventually both fleets successfully returned to their bases. Under the terms of the Treaty of Paris, France returned Grenada to British control at the end of the war.

Following the entry of France into the American War of Independence as an American ally in early 1778, French Admiral Charles Hector, comte D'Estaing, arrived in the West Indies in early December 1778 in command of a fleet consisting of 12 ships of the line and a number of smaller vessels. At about the same time a British fleet under Admiral William Hotham also arrived, augmenting the West Indies fleet of Admiral Samuel Barrington. The British then captured French-held St. Lucia, despite d'Estaing's attempt at relief. The British used St. Lucia to monitor the French on Martinique, where d'Estaing was based.

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