Battle of Minorca (1756)

Battle of Minorca
Part of the Seven Years' War

The departure of the French squadron on 10 April 1756 for the attack against Port Mahon, by Nicolas Ozanne
Date20 May 1756
Location
Mediterranean Sea, near Minorca, present-day Spain
Result French victory[1][2]
Belligerents
 France  Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Marquis de la Galissonnière John Byng
Strength
12 ships of the line
5 frigates
12 ships of the line
7 frigates
Casualties and losses
38 killed
184 wounded
Half the fleet damaged
45 killed
162 wounded

The Battle of Minorca (20 May 1756) was a naval battle between French and British fleets. It was the opening sea battle of the Seven Years' War in the European theatre. Shortly after the war began British and French squadrons met off the Mediterranean island of Minorca. The French won the battle. The subsequent decision by the British to withdraw to Gibraltar handed France a strategic victory and led directly to the Fall of Minorca.

The British failure to save Minorca led to the controversial court-martial and execution of the British commander, Admiral John Byng, for "failure to do his utmost" to relieve the siege of the British garrison on Minorca.[3]

  1. ^ Dull, pp. 52–54.
  2. ^ Lambert, p. 143.
  3. ^ McGuffie, 1951.