The Battle of the Saintes: Myth, Tactics and the Turning Tide

This episode unpacks the 1782 naval engagement off Dominica where Admiral Rodney defeated a French fleet. We examine the disputed “break‑the‑line” manoeuvre, the tactical realities revealed by contemporary dispatches, and how the victory altered plans for Jamaica and secured Britain’s bargaining position in the Treaty of Paris. Finally we trace the economic windfall from prize money and its influence on 18th‑century shipbuilding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices