newfoundland expedition newfoundland expedition naval raiding expedition led english captain august october targeted french colonial settlements north_atlantic island newfoundland satellite expedition occurred early days queen anne war north american theater war spanish succession known fleet descended french settlements southern shore newfoundland destroying fishing stages infrastructure captured fishing trade ships destroyed settlement saint final activity returning captured ships french merchant convoy headed europe ships taken total seasonal settlements destroyed strongly fortified french base attacked background hostilities war spanish succession begun england involved planning major naval expedition targets spain june old style newfoundland target chief advisor lord high admiral informed captain proposed prince going command squadron newfoundland chief squadron commission issued june came instructions investigate military strength french newfoundland fishing sea convoy merchant ships directions report conditions english settlements fisheries act governor territory accomplish given command hms exeter small fleet ships july departed plymouth fleet ships including ships line ships included addition exeter fourth rates newfoundland site conflict king william war ambitious expedition conducted french indian forces led raiding expedition highly destructive completely destroyed english settlements island rebuilt shortly chief english port strongly fortified permanent french settlements newfoundland relatively settlements mary fishermen returned europe end season principal town permanently settled fortifications housed small garrison temporarily command captain colonial marine awaiting arrival governor daniel arrive permanent french population newfoundland fairly small french settlers left newfoundland colony abandoned french small settlement island south newfoundland governor arrived july erected crude wooden fort armed guns raids newfoundland fleet arrived late august bay inhabitants learned french fishing ships loading french warships anchor near french capital learned french routinely posted spies observe activities bay likely report fleet presence day overland trek consequently moved speed heading south west french settlements august fleet captures taking french ship recently arrived french west indian isle martinique battle chased day captured french ship rejoined taken prizes day ordering took rest fleet mary chased ship aground sent boats landing parties sent ashore destroyed fishing stages houses equipment unfinished ships small boats destroying facilities fleet 30th ordered ships escort captured prizes cruise days looking prizes detached destroy sailed account places arrival september bad weather prevented entering harbour day able capture ships harbour rest got away shallow channel 3rd approached harbour report landing left head fleet september detached half fleet led return destroy took half north hoped acquire experienced pilots knowledge french failing pilots found needed experience expressed concerns advancing winter conditions returned met october half fleet completed destruction governor reported letter dated october presumably new style september old style english twice landed men october reported second landing consist men besieged small fort surrendered exchanged gunfire hours english destroyed facilities deposited french prisoners captured earlier expedition left cruising french convoy divided fleet begin return europe assigned convoy merchants prizes destined portugal reserve set escort destined england took rest fleet cruised weeks hoping intercept french convoy pass nearby winter set weather conditions stormy managed prizes finally sailed england mid october aftermath reported taking ships sixteen sent england portugal sold left ships defence force remaining ships including trade goods loaded taken destroyed french settlements destroyed great return england received favour promoted rear admiral actions went distinguished career rest war serving european waters newfoundland continued contested war economic war settlements destroying fishing stages infrastructure main english settlement besieged captured french forces sovereignty entire island passed great_britain treaty french granted rights dry fish shore came british control neighboring eventually given france war austrian succession
Newfoundland expedition (1702)