S. Biggs late 18th century

The Battle of Lagos took place during the Seven Years' War off the coasts of Spain and Portugal. In 1759 the French planned to invade England, and collected an army in Brittany.  Twenty one ships-of-the-line were lying ready at Brest, and twelve more were to be brought from Toulon by the French commander, M. de la Clue. The army was to be then carried to England by the two squadrons.  Admiral Edward Boscawen was given the task of blockading de la Clue at Toulon, and on 17^th August de la Clue was sighted by Boscawen’s look-out ships as he passed the straits of Gibraltar. The British fleet pursued in two divisions, and attacked on the afternoon of 18^th August. On the night of 18^th August two of the French ships altered course to the west, and escaped. The remaining four, however, fled to the north into Portuguese waters near Lagos.  Two were driven ashore and destroyed, and the Téméraire and Modeste were captured. Several of Boscawen's victorious Mediterranean ships were subsequently sent to join Admiral Hawke's fleet off Ushant, where with Hawke, they destroyed the Brest fleet at the Battle of Quiberon Bay.