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Lot Essay
The battle of Quiberon Bay on 20th November 1759 was one of the most dramatic victories in the history of the Royal Navy. At the height of the Seven Years' War (1756-63), with France planning an invasion of the British Isles in order to distract England from her conquest of French Canada, Admiral Sir Edward Hawke's blockade of the Brest fleet was temporarily lifted due to contrary winds. The French fleet hurried out of Brest but was pursued by Hawke into the treacherous waters of Quiberon Bay where a confused and desperate engagement took place in appalling weather. Hawke's nerve and splendid seamanship bringing the French to action in such dangerous conditions paid off handsomely. The enemy lost seven ships-of-the-line and 2,500 men were killed or drowned; it was a crushing blow for France which not only meant the abandonment of their invasion plans, but also resulted in the loss of their North American territories.