Belleisle

Belleisle. (1) A fortified island in the Atlantic, off the coast of the French department of Morbihan, to which it belongs. It was anciently called Vindilis, and Guerveur. Near it, on November 20th, 1759, Admiral Sir Edward Hawke, with twenty-seven line-of-battle ships and six frigates, met M. de Conflans, with twenty line-of-battle ships and five frigates, and totally defeated him, capturing or destroying six sail of the line. The island, was occupied by the British in 1761, but restored to France in 1763. It has an area of about 55 square miles, and a population of about 10,000. The coast scenery is picturesque, though not very lofty. The island is much indented by inlets. It was the birthplace of General Trochu.