Action off Melancholy Point
| Action off Melancholy Point | ||
|---|---|---|
| Part of 3rd Carnatic War | ||
| Date: | 24 November 1759 | |
| Location: | Hughli River | |
| Presidency: | Bengal | |
| Co-ordinates: | not found | |
| Result: | British victory | |
| Combatants | ||
| British | Dutch | |
| Commanders | ||
| Commodore Charles Wilson | ||
| Strength | ||
| 3 armed East Indiamen | 7 ships | |
| Casualties | ||
This was an event during the 3rd Carnatic War
Summary
Mir Jafar, Nawab of Bengal, found his treaty with the British resulted in loss of power and lack of money. He was therefore happy to encourage the Dutch in their desire to increase their influence and oust the British. A Dutch expedition entered the Hughli in October 1759 and Clive's suspicions were aroused. On 22 November the Dutch landed their troops with the intention of marching to their settlement at Chinsura. The ships dropped down the river again to Melancholy Point and the British followed them with three armed East Indiamen. In the ensuing action one Dutch ship surrendered, one went aground and the rest retreated downriver. This victory left the Dutch land forces isolated from their base in the East Indies.
Wilson's squadron
- Duke of Dorset under Captain Forrester
- Calcutta under Captain Wilson
- Hardwicke under Captain Sampson
Biographies
Entries in the Dictionary of Indian Biography 1906
Robert Clive (1725-74)
Francis Forde (?-1770)
Mir Jafar (1691-1765)
External Links
Dutch operations in Bengal 1759 www.kronoskaf.com
Naval battle on the Hughli Google Books
Combat of Melancholy Point www.kronoskaf.com
Naval battle Wikipedia
