Capture of Grenada (1779)

Capture of Grenada
Part of the American Revolutionary War
View of the French assault on the island of Grenada, 4 July 1779. Prise de l'île de la Grenade, 4 juillet 1779 by Jean-François Hue
Date 2–4 July 1779 Location Grenada, West Indies Result French victory
Belligerents
France	Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Comte D'Estaing Arthur Dillon	Lord Macartney (POW)
Strength
2,100 men 25 ships of the line[1]	125 regulars 436 militia and volunteers[2]
Casualties and losses
114 killed 200 wounded[3]	about 700 prisoners 118 artillery pieces 200 merchantmen[4]

The Capture of Grenada was an amphibious expedition in July 1779 during the American Revolutionary War. Charles Hector, comte D'Estaing led French forces against the British-held West Indies island of Grenada. The French forces landed on 2 July and the assault occurred on the night of 3–4 July. The French forces assaulted the British fortifications on Hospital Hill, overlooking the island's capital, Saint George's. The British cannons were captured and turned against Fort George. British Governor Lord Macartney opened negotiations to surrender.

Admiral d'Estaing controversially rejected Macartney's terms of capitulation, instead insisting on him adopting the harsher terms he had written. Macartney rejected those terms, choosing to surrender unconditionally. D'Estaing thereafter permitted his forces to loot the town, and Macartney was sent to France as a prisoner of war.

On 5 July, French forces re-embarked when word arrived that a British fleet under Admiral John Byron was approaching. The two fleets battled the next day. The French severely damaged several British ships; however, both fleets successfully returned to their bases. Under the terms of the Treaty of Paris, France returned Grenada to British control at the end of the war.