French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802)
Maps and prints of naval engagements collected by George III during the decade of war
Ushant, 1794
This View of the Action on the Morning of the 1st of June 1794; at the Time of Breaking the French Line, which ended in a Splendid and Important Victory to the British Fleet. Is most Respectfully Inscribed / To Admiral Earl Howe...
published 1795Aquatint with etching and engraving; printed on paper; laid down on paper, the paper backing brought round the edges of the recto | 49.1 x 70.4 cm (image) | RCIN 735024.b
The French fleet of twenty-five sail of the line and fifteen frigates had sailed out of Brest in order to escort homeward bound merchant ships. The fleet was discovered by the British on 28 May and battle was given on the 29th. The action was interrupted by fog and battle was not re-engaged until 1 June when the British fleet prevailed and captured seven vessels.
Known as 'The Glorious First of June', this action was also known as the 'Third Battle of Ushant'. The British were commanded by Admiral Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe (1726-99), and the French were commanded by Admiral Louis-Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse (1747-1812). The British defeat of the French was only a tactical victory, the objective of capturing a French grain convoy was not achieved.
The companion print is at RCIN 735024.a, and the index or key plate to both views is at RCIN 735024.c.
Additional text: [bottom right, below title, the numbers of ships and frigates of the line of the English and French forces with the French losses.]
Condition: no fold lines.
Robert Dodd (1748-1815) (artist and publisher) [bottom left of view:] R D 1794; [bottom centre, below edge of view:] Painted by R. Dodd.
Benjamin Beale Evans (active 1787-1805) (publisher) [bottom centre, below title:] London Published by R. Dodd Lisson Green & B. B. Evans Poultry Jan.y 1 1795.
Richard Howe, Earl Howe (1726-99) (dedicatee)
Watermark: None visible
Condition: no fold lines
43.2 x 70.4 cm (neatline)
49.1 x 70.4 cm (image)
51.1 x 76.3 cm (platemark)
52.3 x 77.5 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
This View of the Action on the Morning of the 1st of June 1794; at the Time of Breaking the French Line, which ended in a Splendid and Important Victory to the British Fleet. Is most Respectfully Inscribed / To Admiral Earl Howe Commander in Chief, Admirals Lord Graves, and Lord Bridport, Commanders in the Van and the Rear. The Vice Admirals Sir George Bowyer Bar.t Benj.n Caldwell Esq.r Sir Allen Gardner Bar.t / and Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Pasley Bar.t The several Captains Officers &c By their Obedient Servants B B Evans & R Dodd. [bottom, below view]
Additional text:
[bottom right, below title, the numbers of ships and frigates of the line of the English and French forces with the French losses.]
Annotations:
George III heading [black pencil:] Military Naval Engagement 1 June 1794 Port folio No 5 [number changed in black pencil from XV/24 to XV/24-b by a modern hand, Jan '[19]87.
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil, obscured by paper backing: the old heading and:] 24; [bottom left, black pencil:] 102.b; [top left, black pencil:] 24; [top right, black pencil:] 22; [bottom right, black pencil:] 1794-22.
George III catalogue entry:
Naval Engagement View of the Action on the morning of the 1st of June 1794, at the time of breaking the French Line: by Dodd and Evans, 1795: with an Explanation of both the prints.
Subject(s)
Ushant, Brittany, France (48°27'27"N 05°05'46"W)
Bibliographic reference(s)
H. Parker, Naval battles from the collection of prints formed and owned by Commander Sir Charles Leopold Cust. With an introduction by C.N. Robinson, London 1911, no.102.b
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
