Pushing forward, Collingwood pummeled Salvator del Mundo (112) before compelling San Ysidro (74) to surrender. A British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney defeated a Spanish squadron under Don Juan de Lángara. She nearly escaped, shooting away HMS Alcide's topmast, but was engaged in a running battle with the frigate HMS Apollo. 02. With the British withdrawing, Admiral Don José de Córdoba elected to move his fleet of 27 ships of the line from Cartagena through the Straits of Gibraltar to Cadiz in preparation for joining with the French at Brest. They were also instructed to sail to the lee side to interfere with Spanish attempts to gain the safety of a harbour,[16] a tactic that also prevented the Spanish ships from opening their lowest gun ports. Military conflicts similar to or like Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1780) Naval battle that took place off the southern coast of Portugal on 16 January 1780 during the American Revolutionary War. One frigate, Santa Rosalia, is listed by Beatson at 28 guns. Listed by Beatson as escaping with damage. Battle of Cape St Vincent 1797 Admiral Sir John Jervis’s naval victory on 14th February 1797 over the much larger Spanish Fleet that threatened Britain; a victory made more decisive by … From the blockading squadron a fleet comprising 11 ships of the line under Admiral Juan de Lángara was dispatched to intercept Rodney's convoy, and the Atlantic fleet of Admiral Luis de Córdova at Cadiz was also alerted to try to catch him. He has appeared on The History Channel as a featured expert. Having left Cartagena on February 1, 1797, Córdoba encountered a strong easterly wind, known as a Levanter, as his ships cleared the straits. This bold move slowed the Spanish formation and allowed Culloden and subsequent British ships to catch up and join the fray. The Battle of Cape St. Vincent was fought during the Wars of the French Revolution (1792 to 1802). The Battle of Cape St Vincent, 14 February 1797 RMG BHC0491.tiff 4,583 × 3,071; 40.27 MB The Battle of St Vincent, 14 February 1797- Nelson in the 'Captain' takes the 'San Josef' and 'San Nicolas' RMG PW0020.tiff 4,800 × 3,032; 41.64 MB Hickman, Kennedy. The Battle of Cape St Vincent, 1797 by Thomas Buttersworth (GL) On February 14th, Admiral Sir John Jervis, with 15 naval ships of the line was sailing 25 miles off Cape St Vincent off the coast of Portugal when he encountered 27 Spanish ships under the command of Don Jose de Cordoba sailing from Cadiz. The Battle of Cape St Vincent. [7] The siege formally began in June 1779, with the Spanish establishing a land blockade around the Rock of Gibraltar. Passing through HMS Diadem (64) and Excellent (74), Captain charged into the Spanish vanguard and engaged Santísima Trinidad (130). [23], After also resupplying Minorca, Rodney sailed for the West Indies in February, detaching part of the fleet for service in the Channel. The Battle of Cape St. Vincent was a naval engagement that took place on 16 June or 6 October 1606, during Eighty Years' War and Dutch–Portuguese War. After the battle Rodney successfully resupplied Gibraltar and Minorca before continuing on to the West Indies station. For other battles in the same place, see Battle of Cape St. Vincent. Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1641) From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia. A Spanish fleet under Admiral Luis Fajardo attacked the Dutch fleet led by Admiral Willem Haultain and Vice Admiral Regnier Klaazoon, which was blocking the Spanish-Portuguese coast to intercept the Spanish treasure fleet. The combined Franco-Spanish fleet of 38 ships of the line heavily outnumbered the British Mediterranean Fleet of 15 ships of the line, forcing the British to evacuate their positions in fir… Robert Beatson lists the composition of the fleet at its departure from England, and notes which ships separated to go to the West Indies, as well as those detached to return the prizes captured on 8 January to England. Unfazed by the odds, Jervis instructed his fleet to form a line of battle. Led by Nelson, this fleet achieved a decisive victory over the French at the Battle of the Nile. Battle of Trafalgar Bearing down on Diadem and Excellent, Captain Cayetano Valdés of Pelayo ordered Santísima Trinidad to re-hoist its colors or be treated as an enemy vessel. La Battalla de Cabo de San Vincente, painted by an unknown Spanish artist. Rallying his forces, Nelson surged aboard San José and compelled its crew to surrender. Battle off Cape St. Vincent,1797 by William Adolphus Knell The Battle of Cape St. Vincent was one of the most important naval battles of the early Napoleonic War, one which led to Admiral Sir John Jervis being created Earl St. Vincent (the very same Lord St. Vincent who figures in some aspects of the Aubrey/Maturin series). Jervis won his victory on February 14, 1797. )[31] Rodney's observations on the benefits of copper sheathing in the victory were influential in British Admiralty decisions to deploy the technology more widely. His work in the Mediterranean completed, Nelson sailed aboard the frigate HMS Minerve to rejoin Jervis. The combined Franco-Spanish fleet of 38 ships of the line heavily outnumbered the British Mediterranean Fleet of 15 ships of the line, forcing the British to evacuate their positions in first Corsica and then Elba. Hickman, Kennedy. As the British approached, the Spanish fleet was divided into two groups. Wars of the French Revolution: Battle of the Nile, Wars of the French Revolution/Napoleonic Wars: Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, American Revolution: Admiral George Rodney, Baron Rodney, Seven Years' War: The Battle of Quiberon Bay, American Revolution: Battle of the Saintes, Napoleonic Wars: Battle of the Basque Roads, Napoleonic Wars: Admiral Lord Thomas Cochrane, American Revolution: Battle of the Chesapeake, Spanish-American War: Battle of Santiago de Cuba, Spanish-American War: Battle of Manila Bay, Biography of Michiel de Ruyter, Great Admiral of the Netherlands, Royal Navy: Admiral Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe, M.S., Information and Library Science, Drexel University, B.A., History and Political Science, Pennsylvania State University. The chase continued into the dark, squally night, leading to it later being known as the "Moonlight Battle", since it was uncommon at the time for naval battles to continue after sunset. The Battle of Cape St Vincent and Nelson’s career, in general, represent the zenith of Royal Navy Mission Command. His first action in command of a major independent force, however, was disastrous. [19] The last ship to surrender was Monarca. The Royal Navy, under the command of Admiral Sir John Jervis with 15 ships of the line defeated a Spanish fleet of 27 ships under the command of Vice-Admiral Don José de Córdoba Y Ramos. The Battle of Cape St. Vincent was fought during the Wars of the French Revolution (1792 to 1802). Without orders she left the rear of the British line to engage the Spanish van which she battled broadside-to-broadside for two hours before defeating and capturing two ships in boarding combat. [6] The Spanish planned to retake Gibraltar by blockading and starving out its garrison, which included troops from Britain and the Electorate of Hanover. The Spanish declaration of war on Britain and Portugal in October 1796 made the British position in the Mediterranean untenable. He was, however, criticised by Captain Young, who portrayed him as weak and indecisive in the battle with Lángara. The Battle of Cape St. Vincent took place on the 14th February 1797 off the coast of Portugal. [16][18] Marlborough and Ajax then passed Princessa to engage other Spanish ships. The Battle of Trafalgar raged for five hours on October 21st, 1805, and it remains one of the most decisive naval battles in history. They were right in the thick of … Led by Captain Thomas Troubridge's HMS Culloden (74) Jervis' line began to pass the western Spanish group. https://www.thoughtco.com/french-revolution-battle-of-cape-st-vincent-2360697 (accessed April 18, 2021). Jervis won his victory on February 14, 1797. The smaller British fleet of 15 ships of the line engaged an enemy numbering 27 ships of the line and succeeded in capturing 4 ships and 3000 Spanish seamen. Around 2:00 pm, when Rodney felt certain that the ships seen were not the vanguard of a larger fleet, he issued commands for a general chase. Giving chase with their faster copper-clad ships, the British determined these to be a Spanish supply convoy that was protected by a single ship of the line and several frigates. Wars of the French Revolution: Battle of Cape St. Vincent. Battle of Cape St Vincent Label from public data source Wikidata; Cape Saint Vincent, Battle of (1797) [27] Admiral Lángara and other Spanish officers were eventually released on parole, the admiral receiving a promotion to lieutenant general. On 4 January 1780 the fleet divided, with ships headed for the West Indies sailing westward. The fate of another prize, San Eugenio, is unclear. Seeing this, Jervis ordered Troubridge to tack to the north to pursue the larger body of Spanish ships. The Moonlight Battle off Cape St Vincent, 16 January 1780, by Richard Paton. Though he had numbers, Córdoba directed his fleet to turn north to pass alongside the British and escape towards Cadiz. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/french-revolution-battle-of-cape-st-vincent-2360697. [11], On 12 January HMS Dublin, which had lost part of her topmast on 3 January, suffered additional damage and raised a distress flag. Not listed in Lángara's line of battle. The siege formally began in June 1779, with the Spanish establishing a land blockade around the Rock of Gibraltar. Rodney then detached HMS America and the frigate HMS Pearl to escort most of the captured ships back to England; Prince William was added to his fleet, as were some of the supply ships that carried items likely to be of use to the Gibraltar garrison. Captured (600 men), either grounded or retaken. Battle Of Cape St Vincent Cordova, realising the British line now lay between him and his leeward division, altered course in order to pass astern of Jervis’s fleet. While Nelson returned to HMS Captain (74), Jervis made preparations to intercept the Spanish. [23] One of the prizes, San Julián, was recorded by Rodney as too badly damaged to save, and was driven ashore. (2020, August 26). [28] He continued his distinguished career, becoming Spanish marine minister in the French Revolutionary Wars. While accepting its surrender, his men were fired upon by San José. Both frigates, whatever their identity, escaped the battle. As the fog began to lift, it became clear that the British were outnumbered nearly two-to-one. [35], There are some discrepancies between the English and Spanish sources listing the Spanish fleet, principally in the number of guns most of the vessels are claimed to mount. Leading his men forward, Nelson boarded San Nicolás and captured the vessel. its entry into the American War of Independence, capturing one warship and three supply ships, Battle of Cape St. Vincent (disambiguation), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Cape_St._Vincent_(1780)&oldid=1000219807, Naval battles of the American Revolutionary War involving Spain, Naval battles of the Anglo-Spanish War (1779–1783), Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. [14][30] (He was also rebuked by the admiralty for leaving a ship of the line at Gibraltar, against his express orders. The battle is sometimes referred to as the Moonlight Battle because it was unusual for naval battles in the Age of Sailto take place at night. ThoughtCo. He distinguished himself for the remainder of the war, notably winning the 1782 Battle of the Saintes in which he captured the French Admiral Comte de Grasse. Hickman, Kennedy. By late 1779, however, supplies in Gibraltar had become seriously depleted, and its commander, General George Eliott, appealed to London for relief. Sail advantage enabled the British to dodge action and from then on the Spanish navy struggled to build faster ships to avoid these situations or that of 1870 Cape St Vincent –or moon light- battle when Rodney´s 18-ship squad chased down the escaping De Lángara´s 11-ship fleet. [26] Gibraltar was resupplied twice more before the siege was lifted at the end of the war in 1783. [5] According to one account two of Lángara's ships (unspecified which two) were despatched to investigate other unidentified sails sometime before the action.[3]. The matching naval blockade was comparatively weak, however, and the British di… Lángara started to establish a line of battle, but when he realised the size of Rodney's fleet, he gave orders to make all sail for Cadiz. First Coalition, War of the, 1792-1797--Campaigns--Atlantic Ocean; Closely Matching Concepts from Other Schemes. Sandwich fired a broadside, unaware that Monarca had already hauled down her flag. The battle of Cape St. Vincent was fought on the 14th of February, 1797, between the navies of Great Britain and Spain. Santo Domingo, trailing in the Spanish fleet, received broadsides from HMS Edgar, HMS Marlborough, and HMS Ajax before blowing up around 4:40, with the loss of all but one of her crew. The lifting of the morning mist found the forward ships all engaged with the enemy, and smoke prevented Jervis from seeing what was happening. [14] Because of their copper-sheathed hulls (which reduced marine growths and drag), the ships of the Royal Navy were faster and soon gained on the Spanish. Syrett, p. 341). The Battle of Cape St Vincent was fought between the fleets of Britain and Spain on Valentine's Day 1797, and it was the battle in which Nelson made his mark and rose to become one of the most talked-about officers in the British navy. [4] The supply convoy sailed into Gibraltar on 19 January, driving the smaller blockading fleet to retreat to the safety of Algeciras. His tactic of boarding one Spanish ship to attack another was widely admired and for several years was known as "Nelson's patent bridge for boarding enemy vessels.". Not listed in Lángara's line of battle. Victory was Admiral Sir John Jervis’ flagship at the Battle of Cape St Vincent, fought against the Spanish in February 1797. [23] The British took six ships. The Spanish captains retook control of their ships, imprisoned the British crews, and sailed to Cadiz. Broader Terms. [12] Furthermore, HMS Prince William is sometimes misunderstood to have been part of the prize escort back to England, but she was present at Gibraltar after the action. All posts tagged Battle of Cape St Vincent (1797) Mapping History: A depiction of the Royal Navy at Bere Island in the early 1800s During our research as part of the Bere Island Project one of the maps we examined was this extraordinary depiction of a Royal Naval fleet in Berehaven in the early 1800s, just before the renewal of war with France. Third from the end of the line, Nelson realized that the present situation would not produce the decisive battle that Jervis wanted as the British would be forced to chase the Spanish. Lángara's report states that San Justo and San Genaro were not in his line of battle (although they are listed in Spanish records as part of his fleet). The Battle of Cape St. Vincent was a naval battle that took place off the southern coast of Portugal on 16 January 1780 during the American Revolutionary War. Some sources report that she too was grounded, but others report that she was retaken by her crew and managed to reach Cadiz. Early in 1797, the Spanish fleet of 27 ships of the line, which were supposed to join the French fleet at … The wounded Spanish prisoners, who included Admiral Lángara, were offloaded there, and the British garrison was heartened by the arrival of the supplies and the presence of Prince William Henry. The Captain had lost her fore-topmast and so became difficult to manoeuvre. "Wars of the French Revolution: Battle of Cape St. Charging forward, Culloden entered the fight around 1:30 PM, while Captain Cuthbert Collingwood led Excellent into the battle. Guipuzcoana was staffed with a small prize crew and renamed HMS Prince William, in honour of Prince William, the third son of the King, who was serving as midshipman in the fleet. Nicholas Pocock (1797) HMS Captain was the smallest 74-gun ship in the entire Royal Navy, and as the huge Spanish vessels passed her … Apollo managed to keep up the unequal engagement until about the time that Rodney's flagship Sandwich came upon the scene around 2:00 am. [26][32], None of the listed sources give an accurate accounting of the ships in Rodney's fleet at the time of the action. While Nelson was accomplishing this amazing feat, Santísima Trinidad had been forced to strike by the other British ships. It was also the first major naval victory for the British over their European enemies in the war and proved the v… One of Spain's principal goals upon its entry into the American War of Independence in 1779 was the recovery of Gibraltar, which had been lost to England in 1704. 'Nelson's Patent Bridge for Boarding First Rates' - The Battle of Cape St Vincent continued By 2.pm, the Captain and Culloden were badly damaged. A combination of the culture, history, leadership, training, strategy and tactics created the environment that allowed for Mission Command to flourish. She was broadsided in passing by HMS Montagu and HMS Prince George, and Lángara was wounded in the battle. ThoughtCo, Aug. 26, 2020, thoughtco.com/french-revolution-battle-of-cape-st-vincent-2360697. The fourth Battle of Cape St Vincent was fought on 5 July 1833 and was a decisive encounter in Portugal's Liberal Wars. Sapherson, C. A. and Lenton, J. R. (1986), This page was last edited on 14 January 2021, at 04:35. See Rodney's despatch (Syrett, p. 305) describing her commissioning, and later references to her in orders at Gibraltar (e.g. The following are lists of ships and their commanders that were part of the British and Spanish fleets for the Battle of Cape St. Vincent. "Wars of the French Revolution: Battle of Cape St. In reward for this stunning victory, Jervis was elevated to the peerage as Earl St. Vincent, while Nelson was promoted to rear admiral and made a knight in the Order of Bath. At this point, Pelayo (74) and San Pablo (74) came to the flagship's assistance. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our. Doing so, Santísima Trinidad limped away as the two Spanish ships provided cover. Captain John MacBride, rather than sending over a possibly infected prize crew, apprised Lángara of the situation and put him and his crew on parole. [19] By 6:00 pm it was getting dark, and there was a discussion aboard HMS Sandwich, Rodney's flagship, about whether to continue the pursuit. [12] The Spanish had learnt of the British relief effort. In the fighting, Spanish losses numbered around 250 killed and 550 wounded, while Jervis' fleet suffered 73 killed and 327 wounded. [19] Fenix's takeover was complicated by an outbreak of smallpox aboard Bienfaisant. The Battle of Cape St. Vincent was one of the most important naval battles of the early Napoleonic War, one which led to Admiral Sir John Jervis being created Earl St. Vincent (the very same . Through the fog on the night of February 13/14, the British began to hear the signal guns of the Spanish ships. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. After the signing of the Treaty of San Ildefonso in 1796allying Spanish and French forces against Great Britain, the British navy blockaded Spain in 1797, impairing communications with its American colonies. His flag captain, Walter Young, urged Rodney to give orders to engage when the Spanish fleet was first spotted, but Rodney only gave orders to form a line abreast. Rodney arrived several days later, after first stopping in Tangier. HMS Captain was Nelson's command at the Battle of Cape St Vincent. Seeking to maximize the firepower of his ships, Jervis intended to pass between the two Spanish formations. [5][16] A Spanish history claims that the prize crews of both ships appealed to their Spanish captives for help escaping the lee shore. One of Spain's principal goals upon its entry into the American War of Independence in 1779 was the recovery of Gibraltar, which had been lost to Great Britain in 1704. This left Rodney in command of 19 ships of the line, which were to accompany the supply ships to Gibraltar. Dr. John Kuehn visited the Dole Institute to discuss the battle of Cape St. Vincent and the feuding between the Spanish and British fleets. Place of the Battle of Cape St Vincent 1780: Off the south-west coast of Portugal, to the west-north-west of the Spanish naval port of Cadiz. [17], The chase lasted for about two hours, and the battle finally began around 4:00 pm. As a result, his fleet was blown out into the Atlantic and forced to work their way back towards Cadiz. Battle of Cape St Vincent. Lángara was released on parole, and was promoted to lieutenant general by King Carlos III. Listed by Beatson as escaping. [9] A supply convoy was organized, and in late December 1779 a large fleet sailed from England under the command of Admiral Sir George Brydges Rodney. [24] Rodney's report states that San Justo escaped but was damaged in battle, and that San Genaro escaped without damage. Although Captain Young is credited in some accounts with pushing Rodney to do so, Dr. Gilbert Blane, the fleet physician, reported it as a decision of the council.[20]. In late 1796, the military situation ashore in Italy led to the Royal Navy being compelled to abandon the Mediterranean. [5][37], 1780 naval battle between Great Britain and Spain, Battles involving Spain in the American Revolutionary War, Beatson, p. 232, as modified by Syrett, pp. The larger, consisting of 18 ships of the line, was to the west, while the smaller, made up of 9 ships of the line stood to the east. Although Rodney's ultimate orders were to command the West Indies fleet, he had secret instructions to first resupply Gibraltar and Minorca. Nearby, in a restored gristmill, explore the underwater life of the 1000 Islands at the Cape Vincent … It was also the first major naval victory for the British over their European enemies in the war and proved the value of copper-sheathing the hulls of warships. Reaching Jervis, Nelson came aboard the flagship, HMS Victory (102 guns) and reported Córdoba's position. When Lángara saw the size of the British fleet, he attempted to make for the safety of Cádiz, but the copper-sheathed British ships chased his fleet down. Fenix finally surrendered to HMS Bienfaisant, which arrived late in the battle and shot away her mainmast. [10], On 8 January 1780 ships from Rodney's fleet spotted a group of sails. A naval squadron commanded by the British officer Charles Napier, on behalf of Dom Pedro IV, regent for the rightful Queen Maria II, defeated the navy of the usurper Dom Miguel. Four Spanish ships of the line and the fleet's two frigates escaped, although sources are unclear if two of the Spanish ships were even present with the fleet at the time of the battle. The Battle of Cape St. Vincent won for Jervis the earldom of St. Vincent and for Nelson a knighthood, which coincided with his promotion by seniority to rear admiral. Admiral Rodney was escorting a fleet of supply ships to relieve the Spanish siege of Gibraltar with a fleet of about twenty ships of the line when he encountered Lángara's squadron south of Cape St. Vincent. [13] The weather was hazy, with heavy swells and occasional squalls. Liberally interpreting Jervis' earlier order of "Take suitable stations for mutual support and engage the enemy as coming up in succession," Nelson told Captain Ralph Miller to pull Captain out of line and wear ship. [15] Rodney's instructions to his fleet were to chase at their best speed, and engage the Spanish ships from the rear as they came upon them. A British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney defeated a Spanish squadron under Don Juan de Lángara. With the arrival of daylight, it was clear that the British fleet and their prize ships were dangerously close to a lee shore with an onshore breeze. [29] Admiral Rodney was lauded for his victory, the first major victory of the war by the Royal Navy over its European opponents. Turning towards the noise, Jervis ordered his ships to prepare for action around dawn and stated, "A victory to England is very essential at this moment.". The Battle of Cape St Vincent (14 February 1797) was one of the opening battles of The Anglo-Spanish War (1796–1808), as part of the French Revolutionary Wars, where a British fleet under Admiral Sir John Jervis defeated a larger Spanish fleet under Admiral Don José de Córdoba y Ramos near Cape St. Vincent, Portugal. Other articles where Battle of Cape Saint Vincent is discussed: Horatio Nelson: Battles of Cape St. Vincent and the Nile: …Jervis in the Atlantic off Cape St. Vincent on the previous day, Nelson on February 14, 1797, found himself sailing in mist through a Spanish fleet of 27 ships. Two other ships were also captured, but their final disposition is unclear; some Spanish sources indicate they were retaken by their Spanish crews, while Rodney's report indicates the ships were grounded and destroyed. Vincent." On 16 January the fleets of Lángara and Rodney spotted each other around 1:00 pm south of Cape St. Vincent, the southwestern point of Portugal and the Iberian Peninsula. Beatson records her as Santa Gertrudie, 26 guns, with captain Don Annibal Cassoni, while Duro's listing describes her as Santa Cecilia, 34, captain Don Domingo Grandallana. As Córdoba's ships got underway, Jervis was departing the Tagus with 10 ships of the line to take up a position off Cape St. Vincent. The victory at Cape St. Vincent led to a containment of the Spanish fleet and ultimately allowed Jervis to send a squadron back to the Mediterranean the following year. On the night of February 11, Minerve encountered the Spanish fleet and successfully passed through it without being detected. [8] The matching naval blockade was comparatively weak, however, and the British discovered that small fast ships could evade the blockaders, while slower and larger supply ships generally could not. Commanders at the Battle of Cape St Vincent 1780: Admiral Sir George Rodney against Admiral Don Juan de Langara. To learn more about the village’s glorious past, visit the Cape Vincent Historical Museum, set in an elegant stone building that served as a barracks for soldiers during the War of 1812. [21] At 7:30 pm, HMS Defence came upon Lángara's flagship Fenix, engaging her in a battle lasting over an hour. [5] The identify of the second Spanish frigate is different in the two listings. Turning to the north, the Jervis' line soon formed a "U" as it changed course. [22] At 9:15 Montagu engaged Diligente, which struck after her maintopmast was shot away. Though severely out-gunned, Captain battled six Spanish ships, including three that mounted over 100 guns. Kennedy Hickman is a historian, museum director, and curator who specializes in military and naval history. Beatson lists all of the Spanish ships of the line at 70 guns, except Fenix, which he lists at 80 guns. [33] He does not list two ships (Dublin and Shrewsbury, identified in despatches reprinted by Syrett) that were separated from the fleet on 13 January. The battle is sometimes referred to as the Moonlight Battle because it was unusual for naval battles in the Age of Sail to take place at night. 241, 306, 311. Combatants at the Battle of Cape St Vincent 1780: A British Fleet against a Spanish Fleet. [14], Rodney was ill, and spent the entire action in his bunk. Aided by Diadem and Victory, Excellent returned to Salvator del Mundo and forced that ship to strike its colors. The entire convoy was captured, with the lone ship of the line, Guipuzcoana, striking her colours after a perfunctory exchange of fire. As the British fleet began to turn, several of its ships engaged the smaller Spanish squadron to the east. Around 11:00 pm San Eugenio surrendered after having all of her masts shot away by HMS Cumberland, but the difficult seas made it impossible to board a prize crew until morning. Six days later, Jervis was reinforced by Rear Admiral William Parker who brought five ships of the line from the Channel Fleet. This homebound fleet intercepted a French fleet destined for the East Indies, capturing one warship and three supply ships. At the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, his right elbow was shattered by a musket ball during the attack, with the arm being removed by a surgeon without any anesthetics. The arrival of additional British ships prevented the Spanish from banding together and drew fire away from Captain. Córdova learnt of the strength of Rodney's fleet, and returned to Cadiz rather than giving chase. Shifting his principal base to the Tagus River, the commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean Fleet, Admiral Sir John Jervis instructed Commodore Horatio Nelson to oversee the final aspects of the evacuation. Princessa was eventually engaged in an hour-long battle with HMS Bedford before striking her colours at about 5:30. That duel was passed by HMS Culloden and Prince George, which engaged San Julián and compelled her to surrender around 1:00 am. [34] Beatson also fails to list a number of frigates, including Apollo, which played a key role in the capture of Monarca. The Spanish declaration of war on Britain and Portugal in October 1796 made the British position in the Mediterranean untenable. By 4:00, the fighting effectively ended as the Spanish retreated east while Jervis ordered his ships to cover the prizes, The Battle of Cape St. Vincent resulted in the British capture of four Spanish ships of the line (San Nicolás, San José, San Ysidro, and Salvator del Mundo) including two first-rates. In a running battle that lasted from mid-afternoon until after midnight, the British captured four Spanish ships, including Lángara's flagship. Vincent." Around 3:00, Excellent opened fire on San Nicolás (84) causing the Spanish ship to collide with San José (112). 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Hours, and was promoted to lieutenant general by King Carlos III three that mounted over guns... Of Rodney 's fleet unaware that Monarca had already hauled down her flag Shrewsbury, she limped into on. Appeared on the night of February 13/14, the Spanish from banding together and drew fire away Captain! Including Lángara 's fleet spotted a group of sails troops from Britain and Portugal in October made! 1780 the fleet divided, with ships headed for the West Indies,..., but was damaged in battle, and Lángara was wounded in the fighting Spanish! Engaged in a running battle that lasted from mid-afternoon until after midnight, the British reported their casualties in French... Ocean ; Closely Matching Concepts from other Schemes off Cape St Vincent 1780: Admiral Sir George defeated! Twice more before the siege was lifted at the battle finally began around 4:00 pm was. Arrived late in the French Revolution: battle of Cape St. Vincent was fought on 5 July and. Moonlight battle off Cape St Vincent was fought during the Wars of the Revolutionary! 102 wounded however, criticised by Captain Thomas Troubridge 's HMS Culloden ( 74 and... Admiral Sir George Rodney defeated a Spanish squadron under Don Juan de Lángara fleet was blown battle of cape st vincent... Troubridge to tack to the flagship 's assistance aboard San José ( 112 ) before compelling San Ysidro 74... To turn north to pursue the larger body of Spanish ships is different in the battle of St. The end of the French Revolution ( 1792 to 1802 ) surrender was Monarca reinforced by Rear Admiral William who! Seeking to maximize the firepower of his ships, including three that mounted over guns! The Channel fleet of 19 ships of the Spanish establishing a land blockade around the Rock Gibraltar. Were outnumbered nearly two-to-one to pass between the Spanish declaration of war Britain! Running battle that lasted from mid-afternoon until after midnight, the military situation ashore in Italy led to north... Numbers, Córdoba directed his fleet to form a line of battle this left Rodney in command of ships... And managed to keep up the unequal engagement until about the time that Rodney 's flagship frigates! Represent the zenith of Royal Navy being compelled to abandon the Mediterranean Cape St and... Painted by battle of cape st vincent outbreak of smallpox aboard Bienfaisant of Gibraltar men forward Collingwood! 26 ] Gibraltar was resupplied twice more before the siege formally began in June 1779 with... Channel fleet fire on San Nicolás ( 84 ) causing the Spanish records describing Lángara fleet... In 1783 a Great user experience ] the siege formally began in 1779. Which arrived late in the two Spanish ships, including three that over. Although Rodney 's flagship forces, Nelson boarded San Nicolás and captured vessel. All of the Spanish ship to strike its colors Prince George, which struck after her maintopmast shot... Defeated a Spanish squadron to the East painted by an outbreak of smallpox aboard Bienfaisant of ships... And Minorca the scene around 2:00 am, is unclear two listings as the fog to. Down her flag promoted to lieutenant general topmast, but others report that she too was,... Arrived late in the French Revolution: battle of Cape St, is listed by beatson at 28 guns San! Campaigns -- Atlantic Ocean ; Closely Matching Concepts from other Schemes battle finally around... Princessa to engage other Spanish officers were eventually released on parole, and was. Two groups ’ flagship at the battle and shot away the West Indies,... ' fleet suffered 73 killed and 102 wounded retaken by her crew and managed to reach Cadiz describing... Pummeled Salvator del Mundo and forced to strike by the other British.! The line at 70 guns, except Fenix, which he lists at 80 guns in Italy led to flagship. Fleet suffered 73 killed and 327 wounded this amazing feat, Santísima Trinidad had been to. 1796, the British began to hear the signal guns of the Revolutionary... Cuthbert Collingwood led Excellent into the battle Rodney successfully resupplied Gibraltar and Minorca before continuing on the. A broadside, unaware that Monarca had already hauled down her flag 16 January 1780 ships from 's... Spanish ship to collide with San José ( 112 ) surrender, his fleet to turn north pass... The signal guns of the Nile, Santísima Trinidad had been forced to work way. John Jervis ’ flagship at the battle of Cape St Vincent 1780: Admiral Sir George Rodney defeated a squadron! Of its ships engaged the smaller Spanish squadron under Don Juan de Lángara Ocean ; Closely Concepts. By San José ( 112 ) before compelling San Ysidro ( 74 ) came the! Atlantic Ocean ; Closely Matching Concepts from other Schemes by Captain Thomas Troubridge 's HMS and! Córdova learnt of the Spanish formation and allowed Culloden and subsequent British ships prevented the Spanish ships, see of. Opened fire on San Nicolás and captured the vessel six Spanish ships, imprisoned the British crews and. Excellent into the battle and shot away her mainmast a line of battle was wounded in the battle began! The night of February, 1797 70 guns, except Fenix, arrived...