French Revolutionary Wars
In 1789, after a legal challenge and a long dispute, Laforey was granted his flag with seniority back to 1787 and was also made a baronet as compensation from friends in the Admiralty. With this promotion secured, Laforey returned to the Leeward Islands as commander in chief, where he was still stationed at the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars in 1793. Taking advantage of the confused situation of the French colonies, Laforey raised the Antigua militia and invaded and captured the French colony of Tobago in a short and highly successful campaign supported by his son Francis Laforey, a navy commander who was rewarded with a captaincy for his part in the operation. In July Laforey was in England but he returned to the West Indies as a full admiral in 1795.
Arriving in the Leeward Islands once more, Laforey commanded the force which captured the Dutch South American colonies of Demerara, Essequibo, and Berbice and also presided over the forces which put down slave rebellions on St Vincent, Grenada and Dominica. In early 1796, Laforey laid plans for an invasion of St Lucia, but his deteriorating health prompted his replacement in that year by Sir Hugh Christian. Taking passage on HMS Majestic back to England, Laforey died en route of Yellow Fever and was buried at Portsmouth upon arrival. Laforey's son Francis was later an admiral in his own right and fought as captain of the HMS Spartiate at the Battle of Trafalgar. He inherited his fathers estates and baronetcy but died without issue in 1835.
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