Battle of Toulon, 1744
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The Battle of Toulon took place on 22 February 1744 (New Style) between 1:30 pm and 5:00 pm in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Toulon, France.
30 British ships under Thomas Mathews attacked a fleet of 27 Spanish and French ships under Don Jose Navarro and M. de Court. Mathews had been following the French fleet in case either side declared war on the other as part of the War of the Austrian Succession.
At 5:00 pm, both sides drew away from each other. They attacked each other from afar the next day, but on 13 February Mathews retreated to Italy.
Mathews' second in command, Mr Lestock, later petitioned the King of England to hold a court-martial against many of the British officers, including Mathews. Mathews and several other officers were dismissed from the British Navy.
External links
- The 1911 Encyclopedia (http://32.1911encyclopedia.org/T/TO/TOULON.htm).