Editing Glorious First of June (section)

== Background ==
Since early 1792 France had been at war with four of its neighbours on two fronts, battling the [[Habsburg monarchy]] and [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]] in the [[Austrian Netherlands]], and the Austrians and [[Kingdom of Sardinia|Piedmontese]] in Italy. On 2 January 1793, almost one year into the [[French Revolutionary War]], republican-held forts at [[Brest, France|Brest]] in Brittany [[Childers Incident|fired on]] the British [[brig]] HMS ''[[HMS Childers (1778)|Childers]]''.{{efn|HMS ''Childers'' was under the command of Lieutenant [[Robert Barlow (Royal Navy officer)|Robert Barlow]], who later commanded the frigate [[HMS Pegasus (1779)|HMS ''Pegasus'']] at the Glorious First of June.}}{{sfn|Tracy |1998|p=3}} A few weeks later, following the [[Execution of Louis XVI|execution]] of the imprisoned King [[Louis XVI]],{{sfn|Gardiner|2001a|p=9}} diplomatic ties between Britain and France were broken. On 1 February, France declared war on both Britain and the [[Dutch Republic]].{{sfn|Williams |1907|p=373}}

Protected from immediate invasion by the [[English Channel]], Britain prepared for an extensive naval campaign and dispatched troops to the Netherlands for service against the French.{{sfn|Padfield |2000|p=15}} Throughout the remainder of 1793, the British and French navies undertook minor operations in Northern waters, the [[Mediterranean]] and the [[Caribbean|West]] and [[East Indies]], where both nations maintained [[European colonization of the Americas|colonies]]. The closest the British [[Channel Fleet|Channel Squadron]] had come to an engagement was when it had narrowly missed intercepting the French convoy from the Caribbean, escorted by 15 ships of the line on 2 August.{{sfn|Mostert |2007|p=102}} The only major clash was the [[Siege of Toulon (1793)|Siege of Toulon]], a confused and bloody affair in which the British force holding the town—alongside [[History of Spain (1700-1808)|Spanish]], [[Kingdom of Sardinia (1720-1861)|Sardinian]], Austrian and [[Armée des Émigrés|French Royalist]] troops—had to be evacuated by the [[Royal Navy]] to prevent its imminent defeat at the hands of the [[French Revolutionary Army]].{{sfn|Tracy |1998|p=27}} The aftermath of this siege was punctuated by recriminations and accusations of cowardice and betrayal among the allies, eventually resulting in Spain switching allegiance with the signing of the [[Second Treaty of San Ildefonso|Treaty of San Ildefonso]] two years later.{{sfn|Williams |1907|p=387}} Nevertheless, the siege produced one major success: Sir [[Sidney Smith (Royal Navy officer)|Sidney Smith]], with parties of sailors from the retreating British fleet, accomplished the destruction of substantial French naval stores and shipping in [[Toulon]].{{sfn|Williams |1907|p=373}} More might have been achieved had the Spanish raiding parties that accompanied Smith not been issued with secret orders to stall the destruction of the French fleet.{{sfn|Tracy |1998|p=53}}

The situation in Europe remained volatile into 1794. Off northern France, the French [[Ponant Fleet|Atlantic Squadron]] had mutinied due to errors in provisions and pay. In consequence, the French Navy officer corps suffered greatly from the effects of the [[Reign of Terror]], with many experienced sailors being executed, imprisoned or dismissed from the service for perceived disloyalty.{{sfn|James |2002|p=22}} The shortage of provisions was more than a navy problem though; France itself was starving because the social upheavals of the previous year had combined with a harsh winter to ruin the harvest.{{sfn|Williams |1907|p=381}} By this time at war with all her neighbours, France had nowhere to turn for overland imports of fresh provisions. Eventually a solution to the food crisis was agreed by the [[National Convention]]: food produced in France's overseas colonies would be concentrated on board a fleet of merchant ships gathered in [[Chesapeake Bay]], and augmented with food and goods purchased from the United States.{{sfn|Tracy |1998|p=89}} During April and May 1794, the merchantmen would convoy the supplies across the Atlantic to Brest, protected by elements of the Atlantic Squadron.{{sfn|Mostert |2007|p=123}}