In 1746, French Admiral d'Anville set sail with the most powerful fleet of its day: 73 ships with 800 cannons and 13,000 troops.
Admiral d'Anville intended to: "expel the British from Nova Scotia, consign Boston to flames, ravage New England, and waste the British West Indies."
Massachusetts Governor William Shirley declared a Day of Prayer and Fasting, October 16, 1746, to pray for deliverance.
Boston citizens gathered in the Old South Meeting House, where Rev. Thomas Prince prayed:
"Send Thy tempest, Lord, upon the water...scatter the ships of our tormentors!"
Historian Catherine Drinker Bowen related that as he finished praying, the sky darkened, winds shrieked and church bells rang "a wild, uneven sound...though no man was in the steeple."
A hurricane scattered the entire French fleet as far as the Caribbean.
Lightning struck several ships, igniting gunpowder magazines, causing explosions and fire.
Within days of their intended attack, the French had 2,000 dead, including Admiral d'Anville, and 4,000 sick with typhoid. At that point, French Vice-Admiral d'Estournelle threw himself on his sword.
Boston citizens gathered in the Old South Meeting House, where Rev. Thomas Prince prayed:
"Send Thy tempest, Lord, upon the water...scatter the ships of our tormentors!"
Historian Catherine Drinker Bowen related that as he finished praying, the sky darkened, winds shrieked and church bells rang "a wild, uneven sound...though no man was in the steeple."
A hurricane scattered the entire French fleet as far as the Caribbean.
Lightning struck several ships, igniting gunpowder magazines, causing explosions and fire.
Within days of their intended attack, the French had 2,000 dead, including Admiral d'Anville, and 4,000 sick with typhoid. At that point, French Vice-Admiral d'Estournelle threw himself on his sword.
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