Action of 8 January 1780
Encyclopedia
The Action of 8 January 1780 was a naval encounter off Cape Finisterre
between a British Royal Naval fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney
, and a fleet of Spanish merchants sailing in convoy with seven warships of the Caracas Company, under the command of Commodore Don Juan Augustin de Yardi. During the action the entire Spanish convoy was captured. Rodney's fleet was en route to relieve Gibraltar
, and this action took place several days before Rodney's engagement and defeat of a Spanish fleet at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent
.
's principal goals upon its entry
into the American Revolutionary War
in 1779 was the recovery of Gibraltar
, which had been lost to England
in 1704
. The Spanish consequently planned to retake Gibraltar by blockading and starving out its garrison, which included troops from Britain and the Electorate of Hanover
. The siege formally began in June 1779, with the Spanish establishing a land blockade around The Rock. The matching naval blockade was comparatively weak, and the British discovered that small fast ships could evade the blockaders, while slower and larger supply ships generally could not. By late 1779, however, supplies in Gibraltar had become seriously depleted, and General George Eliott
appealed to London
for relief.
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
. Although Rodney's final destination was the West Indies, he had secret instructions to first resupply Gibraltar and Minorca
.
to Cadiz
.
He closed on them, the copper sheathing
on some of his ships allowing them to outsail the Spanish. The whole convoy was captured, except for one merchant vessel. Vessels which had been carrying naval stores to the Spanish fleet at Cádiz
, and baled goods for the Royal Caracas Company were sent back to England, escorted by and . Rodney took those Spanish ships that were found to be carrying provisions to Gibraltar to relieve the British forces there.
In addition Rodney commissioned and manned the captured Spanish flagship, the 64-gun Guipuzcoana, naming her , in honour of Prince William
, who had been present at the engagement. Rodney remarked in his despatches to the Admiralty
that the loss of the ships "must greatly distress the enemy, who I am well informed are in much want of provisions and naval stores". Several days later Rodney engaged and defeated a Spanish fleet under Don Juan de Lángara
at the Battle of Cape St Vincent
, on 16 January 1780, before going on to relieve Gibraltar and Minorca.
, Captain Walter Young (98) Rear-Admiral Robert Digby
, Captain Philip Patton (100) Rear-Admiral John Lockhart Ross, Captain J. Bourmaster (74) Captain J. Brisbane (74) Captain S. Uvedale (74) Captain Edmund Affleck
(74) Captain George Balfour (74) Captain J. Peyton (74) Captain John Elliot (74) Captain J. Houlton (74) Captain Adam Duncan (74) Captain Mark Robinson
(74) Captain J. Douglas (74) Captain Chaloner Ogle
(74) Captain S. Cornish (74) Captain James Cranston (74) Captain T. Penny (74) Captain S. Wallis (64) Captain S. Thompson (64) Captain John MacBride
(32) Captain Henry Harvey
(28) Captain George Montagu (24) Captain Skeffington Lutwidge
(24) Captain John Bazely (24) Captain Lord Hugh Seymour
(24) Captain Edward Thomson
Cape Finisterre
right|thumb|300px|Position of Cape Finisterre on the [[Iberian Peninsula]]Cape Finisterre is a rock-bound peninsula on the west coast of Galicia, Spain....
between a British Royal Naval fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney
George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney
George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, KB was a British naval officer. He is best known for his commands in the American War of Independence, particularly his victory over the French at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782...
, and a fleet of Spanish merchants sailing in convoy with seven warships of the Caracas Company, under the command of Commodore Don Juan Augustin de Yardi. During the action the entire Spanish convoy was captured. Rodney's fleet was en route to relieve Gibraltar
Great Siege of Gibraltar
The Great Siege of Gibraltar was an unsuccessful attempt by Spain and France to capture Gibraltar from the British during the American War of Independence. This was the largest action fought during the war in terms of numbers, particularly the Grand Assault of 18 September 1782...
, and this action took place several days before Rodney's engagement and defeat of a Spanish fleet at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent
Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1780)
The naval Battle of Cape St Vincent, took place off the coast of Portugal on 16 January 1780 during the American War of Independence. A British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney defeated a Spanish squadron under Don Juan de Lángara. The battle is sometimes referred to as the Moonlight Battle,...
.
Background
One of SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
's principal goals upon its entry
Spain in the American Revolutionary War
Spain actively supported the Thirteen Colonies throughout the American Revolutionary War, beginning in 1776 by jointly funding Roderigue Hortalez and Company, a trading company that provided critical military supplies, through financing the final Siege of Yorktown in 1781 with a collection of gold...
into the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
in 1779 was the recovery of Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
, which had been lost to England
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
in 1704
Capture of Gibraltar
The Capture of Gibraltar by the Anglo-Dutch forces of the Grand Alliance occurred between 1–3 August 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession. Since the beginning of the war the Allies had been looking for a harbour in the Iberian Peninsula to control the Strait of Gibraltar and facilitate...
. The Spanish consequently planned to retake Gibraltar by blockading and starving out its garrison, which included troops from Britain and the Electorate of Hanover
Electorate of Hanover
The Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg was the ninth Electorate of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation...
. The siege formally began in June 1779, with the Spanish establishing a land blockade around The Rock. The matching naval blockade was comparatively weak, and the British discovered that small fast ships could evade the blockaders, while slower and larger supply ships generally could not. By late 1779, however, supplies in Gibraltar had become seriously depleted, and General George Eliott
George Augustus Eliott, 1st Baron Heathfield
George Augustus Eliott, 1st Baron Heathfield, KB was a British Army officer who took served in three major wars during the eighteenth century. He rose to distinction during the Seven Years War when he fought in Germany and participated in the British attacks on Belle Île and Cuba...
appealed to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
for relief.
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
George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney
George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, KB was a British naval officer. He is best known for his commands in the American War of Independence, particularly his victory over the French at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782...
. Although Rodney's final destination was the West Indies, he had secret instructions to first resupply Gibraltar and Minorca
Minorca
Min Orca or Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. It takes its name from being smaller than the nearby island of Majorca....
.
Action
On 4 January Rodney parted with the ship of the line under Sir John Hamilton, and the frigates , and under Captains Hyde Parker, H. Bryne and William Dickson respectively, to escort the West Indies-bound merchants. The following day Rodney encountered a Spanish convoy consisting of 22 ships, bound from San SebastiánSan Sebastián
Donostia-San Sebastián is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, in the coast of the Bay of Biscay and 20 km away from the French border. The city is the capital of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. The municipality’s population is 186,122 , and its...
to Cadiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
.
He closed on them, the copper sheathing
Copper sheathing
Copper sheathing was the practice of protecting the under-water hull of a ship or boat through the use of copper plates affixed to the outside of the hull. It was pioneered and developed by the Royal Navy during the 18th century.-Development:...
on some of his ships allowing them to outsail the Spanish. The whole convoy was captured, except for one merchant vessel. Vessels which had been carrying naval stores to the Spanish fleet at Cádiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
, and baled goods for the Royal Caracas Company were sent back to England, escorted by and . Rodney took those Spanish ships that were found to be carrying provisions to Gibraltar to relieve the British forces there.
In addition Rodney commissioned and manned the captured Spanish flagship, the 64-gun Guipuzcoana, naming her , in honour of Prince William
William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
, who had been present at the engagement. Rodney remarked in his despatches to the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
that the loss of the ships "must greatly distress the enemy, who I am well informed are in much want of provisions and naval stores". Several days later Rodney engaged and defeated a Spanish fleet under Don Juan de Lángara
Juan de Lángara
Juan Francisco de Lángara y Huarte was a Spanish naval officer and Minister of Marine.-Life and career:He was born at Coruña, Galicia, the son of a renowned Basque family...
at the Battle of Cape St Vincent
Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1780)
The naval Battle of Cape St Vincent, took place off the coast of Portugal on 16 January 1780 during the American War of Independence. A British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney defeated a Spanish squadron under Don Juan de Lángara. The battle is sometimes referred to as the Moonlight Battle,...
, on 16 January 1780, before going on to relieve Gibraltar and Minorca.
British fleet
(90) Admiral Sir George Brydges RodneyGeorge Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney
George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, KB was a British naval officer. He is best known for his commands in the American War of Independence, particularly his victory over the French at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782...
, Captain Walter Young (98) Rear-Admiral Robert Digby
Robert Digby (Royal Navy officer)
Admiral Robert Digby was an officer in the Royal Navy officer who also served briefly as an Member of Parliament .- Naval career :...
, Captain Philip Patton (100) Rear-Admiral John Lockhart Ross, Captain J. Bourmaster (74) Captain J. Brisbane (74) Captain S. Uvedale (74) Captain Edmund Affleck
Edmund Affleck
Sir Edmund Affleck, 1st Baronet was a naval officer of considerable repute. He entered the navy at an early age, and during reign of George II, served in the several capacities of lieutenant, master and commander, and post captain...
(74) Captain George Balfour (74) Captain J. Peyton (74) Captain John Elliot (74) Captain J. Houlton (74) Captain Adam Duncan (74) Captain Mark Robinson
Mark Robinson (Royal Navy officer)
Admiral Mark Robinson was an officer of the Royal Navy, one of several members of the Robinson family to serve at sea....
(74) Captain J. Douglas (74) Captain Chaloner Ogle
Sir Chaloner Ogle, 1st Baronet
Sir Chalonor Ogle was an Admiral in the British navy.He was the son of Nathaniel Ogle of Kirkley Hall, Northumberland....
(74) Captain S. Cornish (74) Captain James Cranston (74) Captain T. Penny (74) Captain S. Wallis (64) Captain S. Thompson (64) Captain John MacBride
John MacBride (Royal Navy officer)
John MacBride was an officer of the Royal Navy and a politician who saw service during the Seven Years' War, the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary Wars, eventually rising to the rank of Admiral of the Blue.MacBride entered the navy after serving on merchant vessels and...
(32) Captain Henry Harvey
Henry Harvey
Admiral Sir Henry Harvey, KB was a long-serving officer of the British Royal Navy during the second half of the eighteenth century. Harvey participated in numerous naval operations and actions and especially distinguished himself at the Glorious First of June in command of...
(28) Captain George Montagu (24) Captain Skeffington Lutwidge
Skeffington Lutwidge
Skeffington Lutwidge was an officer of the Royal Navy, who saw service during the American War of Independence, and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars...
(24) Captain John Bazely (24) Captain Lord Hugh Seymour
Lord Hugh Seymour
Vice-Admiral Lord Hugh Seymour was a senior British Royal Navy officer of the late 18th century who was the fifth son of Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford and became known for being both a prominent society figure and a highly competent naval officer...
(24) Captain Edward Thomson
Caracas Company warships
- Guipuzcoano (64) Commodore Don Juan Augustin de Yardi, Captain Don Tomás de Malay
- San Carlos (32) Captain Don Firmin Urtizberea
- San Rafael (30) Captain Don Luis Aranburu
- Santa Teresa (28) Captain Don Jose J. de Mendizabal
- San Bruno (26) Captain J. M. de Goicoechea
- San FermínHMS Saint Fermin (1780)San Fermín was a 16-gun private ship of war corvette of the Gipuzkoan Trading Company of Caracas. She was launched in 1779 but the British Royal Navy captured her at the Action of 8 January 1780. The Spanish recaptured her in 1781.-British service:...
(16) Captain J. Vin. Eloy Sanchez - San Vicente (10) Captain Don José de Ugalde
Merchants
- Nues. Señora de L'Oves
- San Francisco
- La Concepción
- San Nicolás
- San Jeronimo
- Divinia Providencia
- San Gavilán
- San Pacora
- San Lauren
- La Providencia
- La Bellona
- Esperanza
- Le Cidada de Mercia
- La Amistad
- San Miguel