Planned French Invasion of Britain (1759)

French invasion of Great Britain
Part of Seven Years' War
Battle of Quiberon Bay which ended the invasion plans
Date 1759 Location Normandy, the Flemish coastline, Southern England, Scotland, Ireland and the English Channel Result British victory: Successful Royal Navy blockade Lack of French resources British victories at Le Havre, Lagos & Quiberon Bay French invasion abandoned
Belligerents
Great Britain	France
Commanders and leaders
John Ligonier Edward Hawke	Duc d'Aiguillon Charles de Soubise Comte de Conflans
Strength
10,000 regular troops, 30,000+ militia	100,000 soldiers

British victory:

A French invasion of Great Britain was planned to take place in 1759 during the Seven Years' War, but due to various factors (including naval defeats at the Battle of Lagos and the Battle of Quiberon Bay) was never launched. The French planned to land 100,000 French soldiers in Britain to end British involvement in the war. The invasion was one of several abandoned attempts during the 18th century to invade the British Isles.

Fighting broke out between France and Britain in 1754, but war was only formally declared in 1756 when France went to war with a British ally, Prussia. From 1757 the British government was dominated by William Pitt, who orchestrated a series of British military expeditions to attack French colonies such as Senegal, Martinique, and New France. Pitt saw the war in Europe primarily as a holding action, which allowed Britain to make gains on France around the world. French strategy was entirely the opposite. The French concentrated the bulk of their efforts on Continental Europe and neglected the colonial sphere. By late 1758 they had made numerous advances against the Prussians, who they believed were only kept from collapse by British support.

The invasion was planned by the Duc de Choiseul who became French foreign minister in December 1758 and effectively served as Prime Minister during the period of the mooted invasion. He wanted to launch a bold initiative that would knock Britain out of the war with one stroke. French pride had been stung the previous year by the ease with which the British had captured Louisbourg and launched amphibious raids on the French coast during 1758, such as that against Cherbourg. British financial subsidies and military aid to her only ally Prussia had kept that country afloat since 1756. Choiseul's brief as foreign minister was to overturn this situation.

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