Planned French invasion of Britain (1708)

Planned French Invasion of Britain (1708)
Part of Jacobite risings and War of the Spanish Succession
James Francis Edward Stuart, by unknown artist
Date March 1708 Location Great Britain Result British victory
Belligerents
Great Britain	Jacobites  France
Commanders and leaders
George Byng	James Stuart Claude de Forbin de Goyon

The Planned French Invasion of Britain, ^[a] took place in March 1708 during the War of the Spanish Succession. Hoping to divert British resources from Flanders, a French Navy expedition was ordered to transport 5,000–6,000 soldiers to northeast Scotland. Once landed, they would help local Jacobites restore James Francis Edward Stuart to the throne of Great Britain.

Using a fleet of fast privateers, its commander Claude de Forbin reached Scotland. However, with the Royal Navy in close pursuit, the troops were unable to disembark and he was forced to return home. Lack of French support meant substantive local backing failed to materialise, and the Scottish Jacobites dispersed without significant military action.
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