Atlas of Battles

naval engagement, notable, early modern

St. James's Day Battle

St. James's Day Battle was a naval engagement fought in 1666 at North Foreland, in what is now United Kingdom. It was part of Second Anglo-Dutch War, which ran from 1665 to 1667. The recorded result: English victory. Recorded strength: 81–90 ships of the line and frigates against 88–90 ships of the line and frigates.

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Dutch text etching: "Zee-Slag tussen de Engelse en Nederlandtse Vloot, op den 4 Aug. 1666." Engraving showing the St. James' Day Battle on August 4th, 1666 between English and Dutch ships.
Dutch text etching: "Zee-Slag tussen de Engelse en Nederlandtse Vloot, op den 4 Aug. 1666." Engraving showing the St. James' Day Battle on August 4th, 1666 between English and Dutch ships.. unknown Dutch artist, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought1666
WhereNorth Foreland, United Kingdom51.367N, 1.600E
OutcomeEnglish victory
BelligerentsEnglandagainstDutch Republic
Casualties and losses1 ship sunk; 300 killedand2 ships lost (sources vary)
Part ofSecond Anglo-Dutch War1665 to 1667

Where it sits in Second Anglo-Dutch War

Conquest of New Netherland, 1664Battle of Barbados, 1665Battle of Lowestoft, 1665Battle of Vågen, 1665St. James's Day Battle, 1666Four Days' Battle, 1666Holmes's Bonfire, 1666Battle of Nevis, 1667Raid on the Medway, 1667Battle of Martinique, 1667Battle of Landguard Fort, 1667Capture of Cayenne (1667), 1667Recapture of Fort Zeelandia, 166716641667St. James's Day Battle, 1666
13 placed engagements of Second Anglo-Dutch War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date1666 (year precision)
to 5 August 1666
PlaceNorth Foreland, United Kingdom
51.367N, 1.600E
KindNaval engagement, early modern
Strength81–90 ships of the line and frigates88–90 ships of the line and frigates
Casualties and losses1 ship sunk; 300 killed2 ships lost (sources vary)
Commanders
St. James's Day BattleSt. James's Day BattleBattle of Goodwin SandsBattle of Sandwich (1460)Battle of Sandwich (1217)Battle of WippedesfleotBattle of the DownsBattle of WippedesfleotBattle of the DownsLilleBrightonLutonIpswichPeterboroughCambridgeCalaisDover100 km51.367N, 1.600E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1666

St. James's Day Battle is one of 1,470 engagements of the 17th century in the atlas and one of 695 in present-day United Kingdom.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q944506, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article St. James' Day Battle, revision 1383177275, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.