Battle of Leghorn
The Battle of Leghorn (also known as the Battle of Livorno) was a naval battle of the First Anglo-Dutch War, fought near Leghorn (Livorno) in Italy between a squadron of the Commonwealth of England under Captain Henry Appleton, and a Dutch fleet under Admiral Johan van Galen.
In 1652 the government of the Commonwealth of England, mistakenly believing that the Dutch had been defeated at the Battle of the Kentish Knock, split their fleet between the Mediterranean and home waters. This division of forces led to a defeat at the Battle of Dungeness in December 1652, and by early 1653 the situation in the Mediterranean was critical too. Appleton's squadron of six ships was trapped in Leghorn by a blockading Dutch fleet of 16 ships, while Richard Badiley's of eight was at Elba.
The only hope for the English was to combine their forces, but Appleton sailed too soon and engaged with Dutch before Badiley could come up to help. Four of his ships were captured or destroyed and only the Mary, sailing faster than the Dutch ships, escaped to join Badiley. Badiley engaged the Dutch, but was heavily outnumbered and retreated.
The battle gave the Dutch command of the Mediterranean, placing the English trade with the Levant at their mercy, but van Galen was killed.
