It was Captain Bently, of the Warspite, who gave the Royal Navy its first Téméraire. The story of that morning’s work is told in the Warspite’s log:
“August 19th: 4 a.m.—Saw 4 sail of the enemy about 4 or 5 leagues from us, running inshore. The other two having altered their course in the night were out of sight. Continued chase and before 8 a.m. the French admiral ran ashore 6 leagues E. of St. Vincent. All his masts went by the board. Soon after saw another ashore, 4 miles W. of the French admiral, and his masts too went by the board. The other two anchored close inshore.
“9 a.m.—Little wind and fair weather. Admiral anchored 3 leagues from shore and signalled for all captains. At the same time signalled to the Conqueror and Jersey to chase N.W. Warspite brought-to.
“Captain Bently returned from the Admiral and stood inshore for the easternmost of the enemy’s ships at anchor. The America stood for the French admiral. Little wind, hazy. Great swell from S.E. 1 p.m. America anchored to eastward of the Ocean.
“We continued standing for the other French ships at anchor 2 m. to W. of the Ocean. Soon after a fort fired several shot at the Warspite, but hoisted no colours. Several of the shots struck the ship and did us some damage.
“We continued standing in near the French ship and fired a few shot at her, imagining she would immediately strike her colours; but finding she did not, stood on and tacked and came close under her stern, and ¼ before 3 we began to engage her: ¼ before 4 she struck.
“At that time the Vice-Admiral with the Jersey, Guernsey, and St. Albans stood in to westward of us after another ship on shore and fired some guns, when she struck; after which they set her on fire and stood in towards the Cape where another French ship was at anchor which they brought off. On our beginning to fire, the America fired some guns on the Ocean: she instantly hauled down her colours.
“We sent a boat on board and took possession of our prize, which proved to be the Téméraire, 74 guns, 716 men. At ¼ to 5 we cut her cables and carried her down to the Admiral.
“In the evening the Intrepid and America set fire to the Ocean.”
Boscawen, with his work accomplished and the Toulon fleet accounted for, sailed away for England, carrying the Téméraire and the Modeste with him under British colours, to add both ships, in their original French names, to the British Navy. His battle in Lagos Bay under the shadow of the cliffs of Cape St. Vincent, if perhaps few people nowadays remember it, perhaps have ever heard of it, yet, in the words of Captain Mahan, “saved England from invasion,” and the Téméraire’s name should always stand for us as a memento of that fact.