John Elliot (Royal Navy officer)
John Elliot was a Scottish officer of the Royal Navy who served during the Seven Years' War and the American War of Independence. He rose to the rank of admiral, and served briefly as colonial governor of Newfoundland.
Engraving of François Thurot, by Giles Petit
The moonlight Battle off Cape St Vincent, 16 January 1780 by Francis Holman, painted 1780. Elliot's ship played a significant part in the fighting.
Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1780)
The Battle of Cape St. Vincent was a naval battle that took place off the southern coast of Portugal on 16 January 1780 during the American Revolutionary War. A British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney defeated a Spanish squadron under Don Juan de Lángara. The battle is sometimes referred to as the Moonlight Battle because it was unusual for naval battles in the Age of Sail to take place at night. It was also the first major naval victory for the British over their European enemies in the war and proved the value of copper-sheathing the hulls of warships.
The moonlight Battle off Cape St Vincent, 16 January 1780, Francis Holman
Don Juan de Lángara, portrait by an unknown artist.
Admiral Sir George Rodney, portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds.
La Battalla de Cabo de San Vincente, painted by an unknown Spanish artist.