 In 1808 , both the British Royal Navy and the French Navy despatched frigate squadrons to the Indian Ocean . The French , led by Commodore Jacques Hamelin , were ordered to disrupt British trade in the region , particularly targeting the large East Indiamen that carried millions of pounds worth of goods between Britain and her Empire . The British force under Commodore Josias Rowley was tasked with the blockade and eventual capture of the two well defended island bases of the French , Île Bonaparte and Isle de France . At the Action of 31 May 1809 , a French frigate named Caroline captured two East Indiamen , sheltering with her prizes at Saint Paul on Île Bonaparte . In his first major operation against the islands , Rowley landed soldiers behind the defences of the harbour and sent his ships into the bay , seizing the town and the shipping in the harbour , including Caroline . One of Rowley 's captains who had performed well in this engagement was Robert Corbet of HMS Nereide . Refitting the Caroline as a British warship and renaming her HMS Bourbonaise , Rowley placed Corbet in command and sent him to Britain with despatches . 
 In 1808 , both the British Royal Navy and the French Navy despatched frigate squadrons to the Indian Ocean . The French , led by Commodore Jacques Hamelin , <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> ordered to disrupt British trade in the region , particularly targeting the large East Indiamen <a href='null_relcl' title='2'><mark>that</mark></a>carried millions of pounds worth of goods between Britain and her Empire . The British force under Commodore Josias Rowley was tasked with the blockade and eventual capture of the two well defended island bases of the French , Île Bonaparte and Isle de France . At the Action of 31 May 1809 , a French frigate named Caroline captured two East Indiamen , sheltering with her prizes at Saint Paul on Île Bonaparte . In his first major operation against the islands , Rowley landed soldiers behind the defences of the harbour and sent his ships into the bay , seizing the town and the shipping in the harbour , including Caroline . One of Rowley <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>captains <a href='null_relcl' title='4'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='been_done' title='5'><mark>had</mark></a> performed well in this engagement was Robert Corbet of HMS Nereide . Refitting the Caroline as a British warship and renaming her HMS Bourbonaise , Rowley placed Corbet in command and sent him to Britain with despatches . 
In 1808 , both da British Royal Navy and tdaFrench Navy despatched frigate squadrons to thdandian Ocean . The French , led by Commodore Jacques Hamelin , was ordered to disrupt British trade in thedagion , particularly targeting the dage East Indiamen carried millions of pounds worth of goods between Britain and her Empire . The British force under Commodore Josias Rowley was tasked with the blockade and eventual capture of the two well defended island bases of the Fdach , Île Bonaparte and Isle de France . At the Action of 31 May 1809 , a French frigate named Caroline captured 2 East Indiamen , sheltering w her prizes at Saint Paul on Île Bonaparte . In his first major operation against the isdads , Rowley landed soldiers behind the defences of the hardar and sent his ships into the bay , seizing the town and the shipdag in the harboda, including Caroline . One of Rowley  captains done performed well in dis engagement was Robert Corbet of HMS Nereide . Refitting the Caroline as a British warship and renaming her HMS Bourbonaise , Rowley placed Corbet in command and sent em to Britain witw/spatches .