Glorious First of June
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
June 1st, 1794, when Lord Howe, who commanded the Channel fleet, gained a decisive victory over the French off Cape Ushant.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Glorious First of June” mean?
June 1st, 1794, when Lord Howe, who commanded the Channel fleet, gained a decisive victory over the French off Cape Ushant.
Is “Glorious First of June” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.