First Battle of Cape Finisterre (1747)

First Battle of Cape Finisterre
Part of the War of the Austrian Succession
Lord Anson's victory off Cape Finisterre, Samuel Scott
Date 14 May 1747 Location Off Cape Finisterre, Atlantic Ocean Result British victory
Belligerents
Great Britain	France[1]
Commanders and leaders
George Anson	Pierre Jonquière
Strength
14 ships of the line 1 frigate 1 sloop 1 fireship	4 ships of the line 8 frigates 4 corvettes 30 merchant ships
Casualties and losses
520 killed and wounded[2]	800 killed and wounded 3,000 captured 4 ships of the line captured 4 frigates captured 4 corvettes captured 6 merchantmen captured[2]

The First Battle of Cape Finisterre (14 May 1747^[3]) was waged during the War of the Austrian Succession. It refers to the attack by 14 British ships of the line under Admiral George Anson against a French 30-ship convoy commanded by Admiral de la Jonquière. The French were attempting to protect their merchant ships by using warships with them. The British captured 4 ships of the line, 2 frigates, and 7 merchantmen, in a five-hour battle in the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Finisterre in northwest Spain. One French frigate, one French East India Company warship, and the other merchantmen escaped.