The French warship, Droits de l’Homme, was the last victim of the failed Expédition d’Irlande (“Expedition to Ireland”). In 1797 the French and Irish rebels aligned to battle their mutual enemy Great Britain. In late winter the French fleet left Brest, France for Bantry Bay, Ireland.
For a variety of reasons, the expedition failed to leave the Droits de l’Homme, the last to return to France.
She never made it.
Expedition to Ireland, the loss of the Warship Droits de l’Homme, is a thumbnail account of the expedition, accompanied by relevant maps and illustrations. Readers of C. S. Forester’s fictional series, Horatio Hornblower will recognize the names of the vessels and commanders from this actual encounter.
Expedition to Ireland, the loss of the Warship Droits de l’Homme, is available on Amazon: