The French planned to invade the British Isles during 1759 by accumulating troops near the mouth of the Loire and concentrating their Brest and Toulon fleets. However, two sea defeats prevented this. In August, the Mediterranean fleet under Jean-François de La Clue-Sabran was scattered by a larger British fleet under Edward Boscawen at the Battle of Lagos. In the Battle of Quiberon Bay on 20 November, the British admiral Edward Hawke with 23 ships of the line caught the French Brest fleet with 21 ships of the line under Marshal de Conflans and sank, captured, or forced many of them aground, putting an end to the French plans. COUNT 5
QSN1 Where was the planned invasion of Britain by France? ANS1 near the mouth of the Loire QSN2 How did the French plan to transport their troops to Britain for the invasion? ANS2 their Brest and Toulon fleets QSN3 What happened to the French Mediterranean fleet? ANS3 the Mediterranean fleet under Jean-François de La Clue-Sabran was scattered by a larger British fleet QSN4 What happened to the French Brest fleet? ANS4 caught the French Brest fleet with 21 ships of the line under Marshal de Conflans and sank, captured, or forced many of them aground QSN5 With the loss of the two fleets, how did the French get their troops to Britain for the invasion? ANS5 putting an end to the French plans.