HMS
Dunkirk was sent to America in 1755, along with several other ships, under Vice-Admiral
Edward Boscawen. On 5 June she spotted four French ships which were bound for Canada under the command of Admiral
Dubois de la Motte.
Dunkirk, and several other ships gave chase.
Dunkirk came alongside the 64-gun and requested the captain meet with the vice admiral, who was then about away. After the captain of
Alcide refused,
Dunkirk opened fire. Soon afterwards, came alongside the French at which
Alcide struck her colours.
Alcide had been carrying 900 troops and the governor of
Louisbourg. The general of those troops was killed and 30,000 pounds sterling captured. In the battle the French vessel Lys was captured by . , 29 December 1758.
Nassau and
Dunkirk are on the far side of the fort's
mole showing only their upper galleries and spars as they engage the fort's
batteries on their
port sides In 1778,
Dunkirk was placed on harbour service under captain John Milligan, who had previously served as second lieutenant aboard . During Milligan's captaincy, and despite her harbor service status, she was among the vessels credited with the capture on 23 December 1781 of the Dutch ship
De Vrow Esther, being in company with , , and . Milligan left the ship in 1782, and
Dunkirk was sold out of the navy in that same year. ==Notes==