THE BATTLE OF FLAMBOROUGH HEAD
On 23 September 1779, an important naval engagement took place off the north Yorkshire coast of England near Flamborough Head. It demonstrated that conflict between the Americans and the British during the American Revolution was not limited to North America. I was reminded of this while visiting nearby Scarborough in Yorkshire this week.
Flamborough Head
Flamborough Head is a dramatic eight mile promonotary extending into the North Sea. A convoy of 40 merchant ships carrying supplies, protected by two British Royal Navy ships, was attacked off here by four ships commanded by John Paul Jones, often referred to as the Father of the American Navy. The convoy escaped into Scarborough Harbor, where it was safe under the cannons of Scarborough Castle.
Scarborough Harbour
During my visit this week, at Scarborough Castle, a guide explained to me the occurrence of the naval engagement. One of the two British ships, the frigate HMS Serapis, commanded by Captain Richard Pearson, positioned itself between the convoy and the advancing ship of Jones, the frigate USS Bonhomme Richard, which allowed the convoy to sail unhindered into Scarborough Harbour. The second British ship was the Countess of Scarborough under the command of Captain Thomas Piercey. Other ships sailing with Jones were the Alliance, the Pallas, and the Vengeance.
Nevertheless, both British Navy ships were lost or surrendered to the Americans during the battle. The American rebels described this as a tremendous victory. It helped give their morale a boost to suggest they had defeated the British Royal Navy, although they had outnumbered their opponents two to one.
Scarborough Castle Visit
The result of the Battle of Flamborough Head was also to strengthen the alliance between the fledgling United States and France. Jones had come from France with ships prior to this engagement. It helped give France further justification to provide more aid to the Americans.
Jones gave the captured Serapis to the French Navy and King Louis XVI of France granted him the rank of Chevalier. The two British Royal Navy Captains for defending the merchant fleet were both awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Scarborough.
Further Reference:
What was the Battle of Flamborough Head? accessed June 14, 2026
Scarborough Castle YouTube Video, prepared by Brian McConnell, UE, on June 15, 2026
Scarborough Castle, English Heritage website accessed June 13, 2026
The Battle of Flamborough Head, American Battlefield Trust website, accessed June 14, 2026