Background
The British had 30 ships-of-the-line commanded by admiral Augustus Keppel, in HMS Victory, sailing from Spithead on 9 July 1778. The French fleet had 29 ships commanded by admiral the Comte d'Orvilliers, sailing from Brest on 8 July 1778. Keppel sighted the French fleet west of Ushant on 23 July. D'Orvilliers, who had orders to avoid battle, was cut off from Brest but retained the weather gage. Two of his ships, standing to windward, escaped into port, leaving him with 27.
Read more about this topic: Battle Of Ushant (1778)
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