No. 2. The British Squadron under...Captain Charles Marsh Schomberg...and the French Squadron under...Commodore Roquebert...Becalmed...after the commencement of the Action off Madagascar, on the 20th May 1811

This hand-coloured aquatint depicts a battle scene involving British and French squadrons off Madagascar on 20th May 1811. In a very calm sea, the British brig-sloop Racehorse is being rowed by her crew, while despite the gunfire and billowing smoke, others are being manoeuvred by their cutters. All have many holes in their sails. The British vessels are named with Astrea on the far left of the picture, Racehorse in the left of centre foreground, Galatea in the right of centre foreground and Phoebe on the far right.

This picture is part of a set of four, others being PAI6166, PAI6168 & PAI6169.

Object Details

ID: PAI6167
Type: Drawing
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Beechey, William; Whitcombe, Thomas
Places: Unlinked place
Events: Napoleonic Wars: Action off Tamatave, 1811
Vessels: Astrea (1810); Galatea (1810) Racehorse (1806) Phoebe (1795)
Date made: 1795; 1806 1810 20th March 1811
People: French Squadron
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Sheet: 514 x 779 mm; Mount: 657 x 963 mm