Battle of Leghorn

The naval Battle of Leghorn (also known as the Battle of Livorno) took place on 14 March 1653, during the First Anglo-Dutch War, near Leghorn (Livorno), Italy. It was a victory of a Dutch fleet under Commodore Johan van Galen over an English squadron under Captain Henry Appleton. Afterward an English fleet under Richard Badiley, which Appleton had been trying to reach, came up but was outnumbered and fled.

Related Topics:
14 March - 1653 - First Anglo-Dutch War - Livorno - Italy - Dutch - Commodore - Johan van Galen - English - Henry Appleton

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In 1652 the government of the Commonwealth of England, mistakenly believing that the Dutch had been defeated at the Battle of the Kentish Knock, split their fleet between the Mediterranean and home waters. This division of forces led to a defeat at the Battle of Dungeness in December 1652, and by early 1653 the situation in the Mediterranean was critical too. Appleton's squadron of six ships was trapped in Leghorn by a blockading Dutch fleet of 16 ships, while Richard Badiley's of eight was at Elba.

Related Topics:
1652 - Battle of the Kentish Knock - Mediterranean - Battle of Dungeness - 1653 - Richard Badiley - Elba

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The only hope for the English was to combine their forces, but Appleton sailed too soon and engaged with Dutch before Badiley could come up to help. 3 of his ships were captured and 2 destroyed and only Mary, sailing faster than the Dutch ships, escaped to join Badiley. Badiley engaged the Dutch, but was heavily outnumbered and retreated.

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The battle gave the Dutch command of the Mediterranean, placing the English trade with the Levant at their mercy, but van Galen was killed.

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One of the Dutch captains at the battle was Cornelis Tromp, later a famous admiral.

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Ships involved:

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