Which 1781 naval battle gave France control of the sea near Yorktown during the American Revolution?

The 1781 naval battle that gave France control of the sea near Yorktown was the Battle of the Chesapeake.

Also called the Battle of the Virginia Capes, the engagement took place on September 5, 1781, near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. A French fleet commanded by the Comte de Grasse fought a British fleet led by Rear Admiral Thomas Graves. The French victory prevented the Royal Navy from relieving or evacuating the British army at Yorktown.

The result was strategically important rather than a simple destruction of the opposing fleet. The British withdrew toward New York, while the French maintained control of the sea lanes. French ships could therefore support the Franco-American forces with reinforcements, supplies, and heavy siege artillery.

The naval victory helped make the Siege of Yorktown possible. Lord Cornwallis surrendered his army on October 19, 1781, a major turning point that led to serious peace negotiations. The war formally ended later through the Treaty of Paris in 1783.