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Capture of Minorca (1798)

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by the 14th. After offering only token resistance the Spanish governor, Juan Nepomuceno de Quesada surrendered Ciudadela on 16 November and control of the island was ceded to British forces. Around 4,000 Spanish troops fell into British hands, as well as a large amount of supplies and weaponry. In
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as allies, in 1796 Spain had switched to supporting France and had gone to war with Britain. The British attempted to assert their authority over the Mediterranean but had a shortage of usable bases. After the failure to establish a British presence in
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on Menorca, where a large modern dockyard included a careening wharf, extensive storehouses and a purpose-built naval hospital. At the end of October St Vincent decided to send an expedition against Menorca, which departed on 19 October 1798.
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was determined to restore British hegemony in the Mediterranean. To ensure this, his fleet needed a base with a well protected deep water harbour that could not be assaulted by land. The best island harbour in the Western Mediterranean was at
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landed on the island and forced its Spanish garrison to surrender in eight days with only some bloodshed. The British occupied the island for four years, using it as a major naval base, before handing it back to Spain following the
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agreed in 1802, called for the return of Menorca to Spain as a condition as what was hoped for a lasting peace in Europe. The return of Menorca and other Mediterranean bases was bitterly opposed by many officers, including
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and destroyed a Spanish artillery position and from there a Spanish attack was driven off. Over the next two days the army continued inland, a force of 300 men under
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On 11 November a Spanish squadron of four frigates attempted to disrupt operations, but a swift counterattack by Duckworth's ships drove them off.
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The island had traditionally belonged to Spain, but was captured in 1708 by the British and was subsequently ceded to Britain by Spain under
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allowing the British fleet to enter the harbour and anchor there while the main army received the surrender of town after town, including
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The British converted the island into one of their principal Mediterranean bases. Many expeditions were launched from the island, and
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The peace rapidly broke down, but no effort was made to recover Menorca as major bases had been established in other ports (
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to speak against the prospect. In spite of this opposition, the Treaty was concluded, and the British commander
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The expeditionary force arrived off Menorca on 7 November and St Vincent detached three ships of the line,
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three frigates and several smaller vessels and transports to the island under Rear Admiral
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The Naval History of Great Britain (Vol II) : Capture of Minorca
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The Pursuit of Victory: The Life and Achievements of Horatio Nelson
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were considered. Once the French Mediterranean Fleet had been
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Cochrane: The Life and Exploits of a Fighting Captain
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Port Mahon, Minorca with British Men-of-War at Anchor
805:(historically called "Minorca" by the British) from 53:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 849:While Britain and Spain had initially entered the 709: 1189:Amphibious operations involving the Great Britain 983:(38 guns), were captured along with their crews. 1140: 385: 250: 16:For other battles for control of Menorca, see 695: 371: 702: 688: 378: 364: 236:Menorca occupied by the British until 1802 113:Learn how and when to remove this message 1164:Battles of the French Revolutionary Wars 1060: 1058: 1056: 1054: 891: 1044: 1042: 900:who commanded the British naval forces. 1141: 932:, carrying a small army under Colonel 801:In November 1798 a British expedition 1051: 683: 359: 1039: 962:Stuart had moved his army to harass 51:adding citations to reliable sources 22: 13: 1127: 14: 1205: 1116:. Constable & Robinson, 2000. 1003:taking over the post thereafter. 967:addition, four Spanish frigates, 936:. A force was put ashore at the 1023:oversaw the British evacuation. 308: 296: 285: 266: 252: 148: 27: 1169:Battles involving Great Britain 1106: 38:needs additional citations for 1159:Mediterranean campaign of 1798 1094: 1085: 1076: 1067: 809:. A large force under General 803:captured the island of Menorca 713:Mediterranean campaign of 1798 62:"Capture of Minorca" 1798 1: 1033: 821: 999:between 1798 and 1800, with 986: 7: 944:managed to gain control of 887: 142:War of the Second Coalition 10: 1210: 1194:Invasions by Great Britain 15: 721: 397: 337: 320: 278: 244: 164: 147: 134: 129: 872:destroyed in Aboukir Bay 858:, other targets such as 851:French Revolutionary War 1174:Battles involving Spain 1123:. Penguin Books, 2006. 901: 618:Colonia del Sacramento 279:Commanders and leaders 137:Mediterranean campaign 1184:Amphibious operations 930:John Thomas Duckworth 898:John Thomas Duckworth 895: 338:Casualties and losses 1015:who appeared in the 47:improve this article 997:Governor of Menorca 350:4 frigates captured 203: /  18:Invasion of Menorca 1154:History of Menorca 902: 207:39.9500°N 4.0500°E 172:7–15 November 1798 159:John Thomas Serres 130:Capture of Minorca 1149:Conflicts in 1798 1021:Richard Bickerton 832:Treaty of Utrecht 796: 795: 677: 676: 568:St. George's Caye 388:Anglo-Spanish War 354: 353: 240: 239: 123: 122: 115: 97: 1201: 1101: 1098: 1092: 1089: 1083: 1080: 1074: 1071: 1065: 1062: 1049: 1046: 1008:Treaty of Amiens 1001:Henry Edward Fox 816:Treaty of Amiens 716: 714: 704: 697: 690: 681: 680: 638:3rd Buenos Aires 598:2nd Buenos Aires 588:1st Buenos Aires 519:10 December 1800 489:19 December 1796 452:25 November 1804 447:Cape Santa Maria 412:Cape St. Vincent 392: 380: 373: 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Malta 726:1st Malta 664:Zamboanga 628:San Pedro 603:Maldonado 529:Algeciras 467:Trafalgar 198:4°03′00″E 954:Mercadal 896:Admiral 888:Invasion 633:Miserere 593:Perdriel 563:San Juan 558:Trinidad 547:Americas 401:Atlantic 321:Strength 177:Location 977:Casilda 860:Menorca 856:Corsica 830:of the 751:Menorca 494:Menorca 233:changes 182:Menorca 87:scholar 981:Pomona 920:, and 659:Manila 608:Cardal 442:Ferrol 346:Light 331:4,000 326:6,000 257:  223:Result 89:  82:  75:  68:  60:  1028:Malta 969:Flora 916:Orion 864:Malta 807:Spain 771:Corfu 669:Macau 422:Cádiz 343:Light 273:Spain 186:Spain 94:JSTOR 80:books 1006:The 979:and 971:and 868:Elba 866:and 844:1781 842:and 840:1756 741:Nile 169:Date 66:news 1030:). 539:2nd 534:1st 49:by 1145:: 1053:^ 1041:^ 956:. 912:, 874:, 862:, 846:. 818:. 184:, 157:, 703:e 696:t 689:v 379:e 372:t 365:v 116:) 110:( 105:) 101:( 91:· 84:· 77:· 70:· 43:. 20:.

Index

Invasion of Menorca

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"Capture of Minorca" 1798
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Mediterranean campaign
War of the Second Coalition

John Thomas Serres
Menorca
Spain
39°57′00″N 4°03′00″E / 39.9500°N 4.0500°E / 39.9500; 4.0500
Great Britain
Spain
John Duckworth
Charles Stuart
Juan de Quesada
v
t
e
Anglo-Spanish War
(1796–1808)

25 January 1797
Cape St. Vincent

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