Battle of Nevis The Battle of Nevis on 20 May 1667 was a confused naval clash in the Caribbean off the Island of Nevis during the closing stages of the Second Anglo - Dutch War between an English squadron and an Allied Franco - Dutch fleet intent on invading the island . The battle ended up being an English victory in that prevented a Franco - Dutch invasion of Nevis . Background . Early in 1667 the French having joined on the side of the Dutch decided to target England ' s Caribbean colonies . Having captured their half of St . Kitts , Antigua , and Montserrat they now threatened to invade Nevis . In March Captain John Berry , in the 56 - gun man - of - war " Coronation " arrived at Barbados and the Governor decided to make an attempt to save Nevis . He bought up a number of armed merchantmen and created a squadron of ten men - of - war and one fireship under Berry ' s command . Having arrived at Nevis , Berry decided on blockading French held Saint Kitts on 17 April . On 14 May at Martinique French Admiral de La Barre , Martinique ' s governor Vice Admiral de Clodoré and Guadeloupe ' s governor Rear Admiral Du Lion , plus the ﬁreships were met by Crijnssen ’ s Dutch squadron who had reconquered Berbice and St Eustatius from the English . In a conference they decided on a combined attack against Nevis and were further strengthened by 600 volunteers raised on Martinique plus another 500 picked up two days later at Guadeloupe . On 18 May the combined force headed toward Nevis . Action . On the 20th May in the early morning rounding the southern points of Nevis , the Franco - Dutch ﬂeet was sighted by English reconnaissance boats , who carried a warning into Charlestown . By 8 a . m . Captain Berry immediately prepared for action knowing that he was outnumbered and then waited for the attack with ten large men of war headed by " Coronation " of 50 guns , two frigates and 2 fireships . Meanwhile the militia on Nevis itself lined the defenses in case the French and Dutch managed to get through , they also supported the fleet with a number of cannons . The French and Dutch fleet closed in on the English line and soon the battle commenced . The French line disintegrated into confusion while preparing to engage so De la Barre brought his flagship " Lys Couronne " of 38 guns into action with the " Coronation " but soon found himself surrounded by the English . After being badly mauled he and his ship barely managed to escape but the Dutch seeing the French collapse immediately tried to help . They came in and gave a " Coronation " a severe pounding but they too were forced to withdraw in threat of English fireships . In the thick of the battle an English man of war took a hit in her powder magazine and blew up and sank with most of her crew , and a 30 - gun French man of war and a smaller flyboat were destroyed by fireships . The French and the Dutch seeing that they could not get through realized the battle had been lost . The battle then ended with a desultory long - range exchange between both ﬂeets , with the English fleet still holding its line , de La Barre with increasing casualties and his ship severely damaged then decided to withdraw off towards Saint Kitts by 2 p . m . compelling the Dutch under an angry Crijnssen to follow . Aftermath . Disheartened at their poor showing , Crijnseen decided to part company with the French . On 27 May de La Barre ’ s ﬂeet accompanied the Dutch as far as Saint Barthélemy and was soon chased toward Martinique by some of Berry ’ s ships . The English remained at Nevis and were not threatened for the rest of the war . As a result of the battle Franco - Dutch strategic collaboration in the Caribbean which could have promised so much all but ceased . To make matters worse for them Louis was not willing to commit more men and ships to the Caribbean . An English attempt to retake St . Kitts ended in failure but it would not matter as more English reinforcements arrived under Rear - Admiral Sir John Harman . They reached the West Indies in June and inflicted a heavy defeat on de la Barre at Martinique on 25 June which virtually vaporised the entire French fleet in the America ' s changing the situation and making sure the English had the upper hand in the Caribbean for the reminder of the war . External links . Rickard , J ( 22 August 2009 ) , [ Rickard , J ( 22 August 2009 ) , Battle of Nevis , 19 or 20 May 1667 , http : / / www . historyofwar . org / articles / battles _ nevis _ 1667 . html ]