The Expedition Of Thurot (1759 – 1760)

Above: The Expedition of Thurot

England was at this time at war with France, and a report of a projected French invasion caused great alarm. Towards the end of 1759, an army was collected at Vannes in Brittany, which was to be conveyed by a powerful fleet anchored at Brest under admiral Conflans. A smaller squadron of five vessels lay at Dunkirk under Thurot, an enterprising commander, an Irishman, whose real name was O’Farrell. Admiral Hawke kept a watch on the fleet at Brest; but being forced by a storm to take refuge in Torbay, the fleet put to sea. ft was intercepted by Hawke off Quiberon bay, on the French coast, on the night of the l4th November, 1759, and defeated; after which the French abandoned all thoughts of an in- vasion.

Commodore Boys had been watching Thurot, who, however, eluded him and sailed out. But he was driven by storms to Bergen in Norway, where he remained till December. One of his vessels had dis- appeared in the storm; one returned to France; and with the remaining three lie appeared off Carnckfergus on the 2 ist February, 1760. Having been tossed about by storms, his crew were reduced by famine and hard- ships, and were now half starved. With about 1,000 men he disembarked and attacked the castle, which was defended by colonel Jennings with only 150 men of the 62nd regiment, having no cannon and hardly any ammunition.

After a brief defence Jennings had to surrender, and tlie hungry French fell on all the food they could find; but did not molest the people. As there were not sufficient provisions, they obtained some from Belfast under threat of burning that town and Carrick- fergus. On the 26th of February they re-embarked, on hearing that an armed force was advancing on them; but they were intercepted a little north of the Isle of Man by captain Elliott, who had sailed in pursuit from Kinsale with the ship Aeolus and two others. There was a sharp action in which Thurot was killed; and his three vessels were captured and brought into Ramsey. George ft died suddenly at Kensington of heart disease on the 25th October, 1760, and was succeeded bv his grandson George HI.