The War of Jenkins’ Ear was a conflict between Britain and Spain, spanning from 1739 to 1748. It was named after an incident involving a British merchant ship captain named Robert Jenkins, whose ear was allegedly severed by the Spanish.
One of the key battles of the War of Jenkins’ Ear occurred in 1740 when British forces, led by Admiral Edward Vernon, attacked and captured the Spanish port city of Portobelo in present-day Panama. This victory bolstered British morale and demonstrated their naval strength in the Caribbean.
The War of Jenkins’ Ear
In the same year, another British expedition, led by General James Oglethorpe, targeted St. Augustine, the capital of Spanish Florida. The siege of St. Augustine lasted for several weeks but ultimately ended in failure for the British, as they were unable to capture the city.
In 1741, British and Spanish forces clashed in the Battle of Cartagena de Indias, a major port city in present-day Colombia. The British, under Admiral Vernon’s command, launched a failed assault on the city, suffering heavy casualties due to disease and strong Spanish defenses.
The war also saw conflicts in the Caribbean, with British and Spanish naval forces engaging in skirmishes and raids along the coastlines of Spanish colonies.
Despite initial British successes, the War of Jenkins’ Ear ended inconclusively in 1748 with the signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. The treaty restored captured territories to their respective owners but did not address the underlying issues that had led to the conflict.
The War of Jenkins’ Ear highlighted the tensions between Britain and Spain over colonial territories and trade routes in the Americas. It also demonstrated the importance of naval power in maintaining dominance in the region.
While the war did not result in significant territorial changes, it contributed to the broader geopolitical competition between European powers in the New World. The legacy of the conflict continued to shape colonial relations and rivalries in the Americas for years to come.