The
Capture of Sint Eustatius took place in February 1781 during the
American War of Independence when
British army and naval forces under General
John Vaughan and Admiral
George Rodney seized the
Dutch-owned
Caribbean island of
Sint Eustatius. The capture was controversial in Britain, as it was alleged that Vaughan and Rodney had used the opportunity to enrich themselves and had neglected more important military duties. The island was subsequently taken by Dutch-allied
French forces in late 1781, ending the British occupation.