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Appearance
After their victory in the Battle of Barfleur in the Nine Years' War, an English fleet under Edward Russell gave chase to French ships commanded by Anne Hilarion de Tourville. On 21 May (O.S.) 1692, the damaged French ships of the line beached themselves at Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, Normandy. All twelve of them were destroyed (seen here), forcing King Louis XIV to cancel his invasion plans.Artist: William Woollett; Restoration: Adam Cuerden