Battle of Beachy Head (1690)

The Battle of Beachy Head, also known as the Battle of Bévéziers, was a fleet action fought on 10 July 1690 during the Nine Years' War. The battle was the most significant French naval victory over their English and Dutch opponents during the war. The Dutch lost a number of ships of the line and three fireships; their English allies also lost one ship of the line, whereas the French did not lose a vessel. Control of the English Channel temporarily fell into French hands but Vice-Admiral Anne Hilarion de Tourville failed to pursue the Anglo-Dutch fleet with sufficient vigour, allowing it to fall back to the Thames.

This article is about the 1690 battle. For other battles off Beachy Head, see Battle of Beachy Head.
Battle of Beachy Head
Part of the Nine Years' War

An illustration of the battle by Théodore Gudin
Date10 July 1690
Location
Off Beachy Head, English Channel
50.73743°N 0.24768°E / 50.73743; 0.24768
Result French victory
Belligerents
 France  England
 Dutch Republic
Commanders and leaders
Tourville
Châteaurenault
D'Estrées
Forbin		 Earl of Torrington
Ralph Delaval
Cornelis Evertsen
Strength
75 ships
28,000 crewmen		 56 ships
23,000 crewmen
Casualties and losses
No ships lost 2,350 killed and wounded
4,000 total casualties
7-15 ships captured, sunk or destroyed

Tourville was criticised for not following up his victory and was relieved of his command. Royal Navy Admiral Arthur Herbert, 1st Earl of Torrington, who had advised against engaging the superior French fleet but had been overruled by Queen Mary II of England and her ministers, was court-martialled for his performance during the battle. Although he was acquitted, King William III of England dismissed him from the service.

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