Hugh Palliser - Seven Years' War

Seven Years' War

Further information: Great Britain in the Seven Years War

The ongoing friction between Britain and France ignited into open warfare in 1755. In September of that year Palliser was placed in command of the 60-gun HMS Eagle. That ship engaged and defeated the French 50-gun Duc d'Aquitain off Ushant on 30 May 1757. After that battle Eagle returned to port for repairs, and Palliser moved to command of the 74-gun HMS Shrewsbury, part of the Channel Fleet under George Anson.

In that ship in July 1758 he grounded and captured several French ships near Brest. In 1759 Palliser participated in the successful British capture of Quebec City, commanding the seamen who landed and took possession of Lower Town. In 1760 Palliser was sent to the Mediterranean Sea to chase a small French squadron which had slipped out of the port at Toulon. He bottled the French boats up at several ports in Turkey. In 1762 Palliser commanded a four-ship armada dispatched to retake St. Johns, Newfoundland, but the area was already in British control when he arrived following the Battle of Signal Hill.