Battle of the Glorious First of June

June 1, 1794

In the Atlantic west of Ushant, Lord Howe's fleet battered the French fleet but failed to stop the grain convoy it was protecting. Both sides claimed victory. Britain had strategic dominance at sea; France got its American wheat. Naval wars were becoming wars of economics. Howe captured six French warships and sank a seventh, but the 130 grain transports reached Brest safely and fed a starving republic.