Fourteen British ships, one French convoy, and a battle that cut an empire's lifeline.

On October 25, 1747 (October 14 in Britain's old calendar), Rear-Admiral Edward Hawke caught a French squadron escorting about 250 merchant ships bound for the West Indies near Cape Finisterre, off Spain.

Hawke captured six French ships of the line. Most of the merchant ships escaped, but France lost about 4,000 sailors as prisoners and decided it could no longer fight convoys through the British blockade. Its colonies were left short of supplies until the war ended in 1748.

Why it still matters: control of the sea lanes would decide many more wars between Britain and France.

Which do you think matters more in war: ships or supplies?

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