Capture of Saint Vincent | |||||||
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Part of the American Revolutionary War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
France | Great Britain | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
D'Estaing Trolong du Rumain Chatoyer |
Valentine Morris George Etherington | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
1 frigate 2 corvettes 2 sloops 300–500 regulars and militia 800 local Black Caribs | 464 Royal American Regiment infantry (252 listed as fit for duty) | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
None reported 82 men lost by shipwreck[1] |
2 merchant ships captured 422 men captured |
The Capture of Saint Vincent was a French invasion that took place between 16 and 18 June 1779 during the American Revolutionary War. A French force commander named Charles-Marie de Trolong du Rumain landed on the island of Saint Vincent in the West Indies and quickly took over much of the British-controlled part of the island, assisted by local Black Caribs who held the northern part of the island.
British Governor Valentine Morris and military commander Lieutenant Colonel George Etherington disagreed on how to react and ended up surrendering without significant resistance. Both leaders were subjected to inquiries over the surrender. The period of French control began by capturing the island, which resulted in a solidified Black Carib control over northern parts of the island. The area remained under Carib control until the Second Carib War of 1795.