Battle of the Basque Roads

1809 CE

A British fleet blockaded French ships in the Basque Roads when Lord Cochrane led an attack with explosion vessels and fireships. The French line broke as ships grounded while trying to escape.

The failure to destroy more of the immobilised fleet produced a bitter public dispute between Cochrane and Admiral Gambier. The battle became as notable for controversy and court-martial as for its tactical success.

A Sea of Gold places Kydd in Cochrane’s assault force and links the physical danger of fireships to the political consequences of challenging senior command.

Related people for Battle of the Basque Roads

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington1769–1852 Bernardo O’Higgins1778–1842 George Washington1732–1799 Giuseppe Garibaldi1807–1882 Horatio Nelson1758–1805 Napoleon1769–1821 Pedro I of Brazil1798–1834 Robert Clive1725–1774 Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald1775–1860 Ulysses S. Grant1822–1885

Books

1 Best Novel About the Battle of the Basque Roads

A Sea of Gold

by Julian Stockwin

First published 2018 · Thomas Kydd · 4.3(511)

2 Best Non-Fiction Books About the Battle of the Basque Roads

Histories, biographies and reference works are listed separately from the historical novels above.

Cochrane

by Robert Harvey

First published 2000 · 4.2(89)

Mavericks

by Robert Harvey

First published 2008 · 2.8(5)