EDUARD HOUK

Houka victory in 1759 destroyed the French plans to invade the land of Great Britain during the Seven Years War.

Edward Houk was born Feb. 21, 1710 in London. In February 1720 he joined the Navy, was an active participant in the War of Austrian Succession 1740-1748 years.

Houk distinguished in the battle at Toulon in February 1744. After an unsuccessful boarding Spanish troops at the end of 1743 on the banks of the Republic of Genoa in the Spanish fleet left Toulon, and at four months was blocked by the superior British fleet. At the request of the Spanish King Louis XIV ordered the French fleet to accompany the Spaniards. The commander of the French fleet of 80-year-old Admiral de Kurt, do not trust the preparation of the federal fleet, has offered to dispel the Spanish ships of the French, but the admiral Navarro did not agree with him. Of the 27, three Spanish ships were part of the center, and 9 - rearguard. February 19, the Federal fleet was made of Toulon. Locked Fleet Admiral Matthews (29 ships) pursued him on 22 February his rear and center overtook the enemy. Englishmen were in the wind. Despite the backlog rearguard, Matthews vigorously attacked the enemy rear, and center. Thus flagship managed to compensate for the lack of power. Ships vanguard repelled the enemy attempts to reach the head of the British squadron. However, most commanders were not in favor of Matthews Center, which has two neighboring vessels strongly attacked the 110-gun ship of the Spanish admiral, and fired from afar. The exception was Houk, who strongly attacked his opponent, withdrew it, and then left the line vanguard, went to another Spanish ship, which resist fire 5 British ships, and took it. This was the only trophy of the battle. And the king, and the government to remember the credit of Captain. For Outstanding Service Houka fired in the rear-admirals.

In October 1747 Rear Admiral Houk commanded a squadron of 14 battleship. French Commodore d′Etendyuer 9 battleship escort 250 merchant ships bound for the West Indies. October 14, when you are the enemy, he left one of the ships in convoy, and the rest of the way obstruct Houku. Each of the British ships had been weaker than any enemy. Ships Houka, approaching the enemy, have the right and left of the French ships to put them in the two fires. The battle lasted from noon till night. Four French ship lost all the masts, the two were only foremast. After a stubborn fight the British captured 6 ships, but the convoy was saved. The English fleet has suffered in battle so that the remaining two French ship departed safely to base. As Houk was unable to because of damage to haunt the court, he sent a sloop in the West Indies. Thanks to prevent it managed to capture some of the British convoy.

In June 1755, when all went to the beginning of the Anglo-French War, a squadron of Sir E. Houka sent to cruise between Cape Finisterre and Uessanom with an order to seize a French battleship, if this appears in the sea. In August, it was given an additional indication to capture and send to the English ports of all the French court. Until the end of the year, even before the declaration of war, the British seized 300 ships and 6,000 French sailors. On the other hand, France has vigorously prepared ships and troops was tied to the English Channel, to make a landing in England. The British were seen landing. However, the French, taking advantage of the weakening of a squadron in the Mediterranean, in the spring of 1756, took possession of Menorca. Tried to split the French in battle of Admiral Bing Menorskom fail, was recalled to England and executed. His squadron in Gibraltar has Houk.

Later on the European maritime theater of operations the main objective of the British fleet was the blockade of the main French naval bases - Toulon and Brest. At the suggestion of Houka, these bases are closely blockaded by the navy.

In 1759 Houk commanded the fleet, the French blocked the marine station in Brest. He played a decisive role in the capture of Canada, for his passing ships could not break through the court with reinforcements to North America. In response, the French decided to disembark in the British Isles. A crucial role in the implementation of this idea was to play the fleet.

Photo — «Eduard Houk»

Since the beginning of 1769 in Le Havre, Dunkirk, Brest and ROCHEFORT built flat-bottomed vessels, which had planned to redeploy the 50 thousandth army to England and another 12 thousand people - in Scotland. Ships from Toulon to be paired with the squadron, lying at Brest. However Squadron de la Klyu directed from Toulon, was intercepted by the squadron Boskouena. Of the 12 battleship after the passage of Gibraltar, five went to Cadiz, five were destroyed or captured by the British, and only two went to the goal.

Despite the autumn weather, blocking the English squadron remained in the sea. Houka biographer has pointed out that in his correspondence is not seen clearly that the ships are obliged to stay at sea even in winter storms, and visible confidence in the ability to perform the task with good skills and experience of the crews.

Five ships in Cadiz disturbed Houka, cruise before Brest. Commander Fleet in Brest Marshal de CONFLANS propose to put to sea with 20 ships and escort troops to the shores of England. But it is mandated to address earlier to pave the way for the troops.

Since November 5-6 podul a strong west wind, Houk, was kept in the stormy sea for three days, went to Torben and was fully prepared. De CONFLANS made by November 14 and headed south. However, his hope is to go without a fight is not fulfilled. Houk went to sea on 12 November, was the wind dropped back and still on 14 November, arrived at the office and learned that the enemy fleet south of it is sent to the east. Believing that the French are in Kiberonskuyu Bay, Houk went there under all the sails.

French admiral at dawn on November 20, approached the Kiberonskoy Bay block it fight off a squadron of Commodore Duff and hoisted a signal for the race. The British are divided: some went down to the shore, and they rushed the majority of the French Navy, the second went to the south, and it went a battleship. Almost simultaneously, were found sails on the horizon, and de CONFLANS first, not expecting to meet the major enemy forces sent reinforcements solitary ship. Soon it became clear that the fit 23 battleship Houka and 4 ship Duffy - 27. Marshall had only 21 of the ship. He styanul force and began to build the line. Then, refusing to fight in the sea, the sailor told to go to the bay and is led by a convoy that there was no doubt of his intentions. CONFLANS calculated that bad weather is not English will be the flagship of the bay, surrounded by reefs and abundance of rocks and melyami. Houk, however, relying on his experience and his subordinates, went strongly for the French. Perhaps he wanted to take advantage of their knowledge of passages in the bay and went for Conflans, as a pilot.

When the head of the navy skirt Cardinale, southern cliffs at the entrance to the bay, English avant-garde came into battle with the enemy′s rear. Fight in a sea storm was unusual for the French. One of the 74-gun ship was flooded by waves when the crew opened the porthole on the lower deck, the other went to the bottom of the flag-ship fire Houka. He firmly carried out the order not to miss the French squadron to friendly ports. Two French ships lowered flags. Seven took refuge at the mouth of a river Vileny. Seven tried to escape in ROCHEFORT. One of them died on the rocks at the mouth of the Loire. Flagship morning turned out in the cold north of the mouth of the Loire. In order not to bring the enemy trophies ordered CONFLANS run ashore. As a result, 3-hour battle and its aftermath 9 French ships were lost, and the remaining 14 are divided into two groups and in the coming months, could not connect. The British lost two ships, which came ashore and were defeated by the sea. Mehen thought Kiberonskoe Seven Years War Battle of Trafalgar, because after the British can not be afraid of boarding and to send more forces to the colonies of France and its allies.

The victory turned out to be useful for Houka, portraits of whom have already begun to burn in England because of the fact that he allowed to escape from Brest fleet, and so has put the country on the brink of invasion.

Later Houk moved to shore service. He was First Lord of the Admiralty from 1766 to 1771. In 1776 it awarded the title of Baron.

Died in Sanbyuri Admiral (Middlesex) 17 Oct, 1781.