To some, 1778-1783 is identified with the American Revolution. From Ushant To Gibraltar relates the men and actions of the Royal Navy Channel Fleet during those years. Americans would be interested in this book for its study European naval combat and to better appreciate the American Revolution in its global context.
The first chapter is a brief biography of John Montagu, First Earl of Sandwich, a British politician who served in a number of cabinet positions, most relevant for this review, as First Lord of the Admiralty on three occasions, most significantly in Lord North’s Ministry, most notorious for its prosecution of the war against the American rebels. In that position, Sandwich was a leader of the effort to rebuild a neglected naval force to both defend Britain and to project its power overseas. Sandwich will continue to appear throughout the book. Chapter Two presents the civilians and officers who led the Navy and Chapter Three the admirals who commanded. Chapter Four is the tale of Charles Middleton who, seasoned by sea service, assumed the position of Comptroller in which he achieved the technological advance of coppering hulls. Chapter Five details the state of Tactics and Signaling in 1778. With Chapter Six the focus changes to an examination of the French Navy, followed by one of the Royal Navy from 1763-1778, Chapter Seven followed by War Strategy of Britain, Chapter Eight, and France, Nine.
With the forces described, the principal characters introduced, the text proceeds into sailings and actions in European, West Indian and American waters. The first major engagement chronicled is the Battle of Ushant of July 1778, named for the island of that name off Brest, France. Extensive physical damage suffered by both fleets was extensive and set off a series of analysis, recriminations and British courts martial.
Surprisingly to me, a French-Spanish coalition devised plans for a Combined Fleet for a 1779 invasion of the British Isles that challenged the Royal Navy as Britain’s primary defense. Pressure eased as dissention and illness wracked the Combined Fleet, but battles still loomed. The Spanish Fleet was defeated in the Moonlight Battle off Cape St. Vincent on December 16, 1779.
The threat of invasion was averted, but did leave lessons for the Royal Navy. Captain of the Fleet, Rear Admiral Richard Kempenfelt, turned to needed reforms of signaling, coppering of the fleet and organizational authority. Other challenges arose as Gibraltar needed relief and the Netherlands’ declaration of war against Britain set off a war in the North Sea that proved disastrous to Dutch economy. The text continues with the fall of Lord North’s ministry in the wake of disappointing news from America in 1782 and concludes with an account of Admiral Viscount Howe’s command of the Channel Fleet through the indecisive engagement off Cape Spartel after which Howe returned to political life on his way to becoming First Lord of the Admiralty.
Author Quintin Barry has drafted an intensely researched account, supplemented by portraits and sketches of prominent figures and tables documenting the British and French Fleets at the Battle of Ushant. The Bibliography provides guides to further reading. There are both a General Index and an Index of Ships. Barry’s experience as a retired solicitor is reflected in his account of the courts martial.
I recommend From Ushant To Gibraltar to War History Network readers with a deep interest in the late eighteenth century Royal Navy and its connection to the politics of the era. You will love the detail of cruises, actions, technological advances, officers and enemies. With my American orientation, I have heard and read that the American Revolution was a relatively small part of a world-wide war, but this tome supports that general statement with eye-opening facts. I gained a deeper appreciation of the motives of America’s French, Spanish and Dutch allies. Patient readers can derive similar benefit.
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