The Naval Battle of Toulon in 1744 was a significant engagement during the War of the Austrian Succession, which embroiled much of Europe from 1740 to 1748.

The Naval Battle of Toulon in 1744 was a significant engagement during the War of the Austrian Succession, which embroiled much of Europe from 1740 to 1748.

The battle took place off the coast of Toulon, a major naval port in southern France, on February 22, 1744.

It pitted the British Royal Navy, under the command of Admiral Thomas Mathews, against the combined Franco-Spanish fleet, commanded by Admiral de Court and Don Juan José Navarro.

The battle was part of a more extensive campaign by the British to disrupt French naval power and protect British interests in the Mediterranean.

The British fleet, consisting of around 25 ships of the line and several smaller vessels, sought to engage the Franco-Spanish fleet, which was roughly equal in strength.

The engagement at Toulon began when the British fleet encountered the Franco-Spanish forces near the port. The battle was fiercely contested, with both sides exchanging broadsides and maneuvering for advantageous positions.  However, the battle soon became a stalemate despite initial British hopes for success.

Admiral Mathews's cautious approach and indecisiveness during the engagement were heavily criticized by those in Britain.

His failure to press the attack and effectively coordinate his fleet allowed the Franco-Spanish forces to regroup and escape relatively unscathed. 

Mathews blamed his subordinate Richard Lestock, and the issue was hotly debated in Parliament.  Mathews was court-martialed, but Lestock was cleared of any wrongdoing due to his political connections.  Seven other British captains were removed from their commands.  

Both sides claimed victory in the aftermath of the battle, but in reality, neither achieved a decisive advantage.  The British fleet withdrew to Gibraltar for repairs, while the Franco-Spanish fleet returned to Toulon. 

The engagement did little to alter the overall course of the war, but it highlighted the importance of naval power and the need for effective leadership in maritime operations.