Recapture of Demerara and Essequibo

Capture of Demerara and Essequibo
Part of the Anglo-French War
Period map of the area
Date 22 January 1782 Location Demerara and Essequibo, South America Result French victory, French occupation of Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice until the Treaty of Paris (1783)
Belligerents
France	Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Armand of Kersaint Comte de Bouillé	Gov. Robert Kingston (POW)
Strength
Frigate Iphigénie 4 Sloops 355 men from the Regiment Armagnac and 1st Legion Volontaires étranger de la Marine	28th Rgt.
Casualties and losses
Unknown, Minimum	3 sloops captured 2 brigs captured, 1 sunk 28th Rgt. surrendered

The Capture of Demerara and Essequibo was a French military expedition sent in January 1782 as part of the Anglo-French War. In 1781, Admiral Lord Rodney sent two sloops from his fleet at Sint Eustatius to take possession of the Dutch colonies of Essequibo and Demerara. In 1782, the French successfully took possession of these settlements, compelling British Governor Robert Kinston to surrender. The peace of Paris, which occurred in 1783, restored these territories to the Dutch.

In December 1781, Great Britain declared war on the Dutch Republic, bringing it formally into the 4th Anglo-Dutch War. In early 1781, a large British fleet, under Admiral Lord Rodney, was sent to the West Indies. After having made some seizures in the Caribbean Islands, Rodney sent two sloops to take possession of the colonies of Essequebo and Demerara. The possession was taken without much difficulty. The colonies had already de facto surrendered to six British privateer ships by the time the two naval vessels arrived. The governor, Van Schuilenburg, was not satisfied by Dutch protection and surrendered to the British, who found a rich booty in the colonies. The vast quantity of produce which had accumulated due to a lack of shipping proved to be of great value.

French naval Captain Armand Guy Simon de Coëtnempren, Comte de Kersaint, with his 32-gun flagship Iphigénie and four lesser ships, arrived at Demerara without much opposition. There, 335 French men from the Regiment Armagnac and the 1st Legion Volontaires étranger de la Marine launched an assault on the British garrison and compelled Gov. Robert Kinston and his detachment from the 28th Regiment of Foot to surrender. As a result, Essequebo and Berbice also surrendered to the French on 1 and 5 February.

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