Ushant

Ushant (French Ouessant), an island off the coast of Brittany, France, in the Department of Finisterre, and 26 miles W.N.W. of Brest. It has a circumference of 10 miles, the coast being steep and rocky and crowned by a lighthouse. A number of sheep are pastured on the uplands, but the population is mainly dependent on fishing. Lampaul is the chief centre. The French were defeated off the island in 1759 by Hawke, and an indecisive battle was fought in 1778 between Keppel and D'Orvilliers.