Capture of Minorca (1798) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Capture of Minorca |
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| Part of the Mediterranean campaign during the War of the Second Coalition |
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 Port Mahon, Minorca with British Men-of-War at Anchor, John Thomas Serres |
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Great Britain |
 Spain |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| John Duckworth Charles Stuart |
Juan de Quesada |
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| Strength | |||||||||
| 6,000 20 warships |
4,000 8 frigates |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Light | Light 4,000 captured 4 frigates captured |
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In November 1798, a British group of soldiers and sailors took control of the island of Menorca from Spain. A large force led by General Charles Stuart landed on the island. They quickly made the Spanish soldiers surrender in just eight days. The British then held the island for four years. They used it as an important naval base. Later, they gave it back to Spain after a peace agreement called the Treaty of Amiens.
Contents
Why Was Menorca Important?
Menorca is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It has a great natural harbor called Port Mahon. This harbor is deep and well-protected. It was perfect for ships to dock, get supplies, and be repaired. Because of this, different countries wanted to control Menorca.
Who Owned Menorca Before?
Menorca had been part of Spain for a long time. But in 1708, the British captured it. It was officially given to Britain in 1713 as part of the Treaty of Utrecht. The British used it as a naval base for many years. However, it was hard to defend. Spanish and French forces tried to take it back several times. They succeeded in 1756 and again in 1781. In 1783, Menorca was returned to Spain through the Treaty of Paris.
Britain and Spain were initially allies in the French Revolutionary War. But in 1796, Spain decided to support France instead. This meant Spain was now at war with Britain. Britain wanted to be strong in the Mediterranean Sea. However, they didn't have many good naval bases there. They had tried to set up a base in Corsica, but it didn't work out. So, they looked at other islands like Menorca, Malta, and Elba.
After the French navy was badly beaten at the Battle of the Nile, the British wanted to be even stronger in the Mediterranean. Their fleet needed a safe harbor. Port Mahon in Menorca was the best choice. It had a modern dockyard, storage buildings, and a special hospital for sailors. So, in October 1798, the British decided to send an expedition to capture Menorca.
How the British Captured Menorca
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The British ships arrived near Menorca on November 7, 1798. Rear Admiral John Thomas Duckworth led the naval part of the mission. General Charles Stuart was in charge of the soldiers.
Landing on the Island
The British soldiers landed at a place called Addya Creek. They quickly destroyed a Spanish artillery position there. A Spanish attack was then fought off. Over the next two days, the army moved further inland. A group of 300 men, led by Colonel Paget, took control of Fort Charles. This allowed the British ships to enter Port Mahon harbor safely.
Taking Towns and Forts
As the main army advanced, they received the surrender of several towns. They took Fournella, which was important because it overlooked a main harbor. Then they captured Mercadal.
On November 11, some Spanish warships tried to stop the British. But Admiral Duckworth's ships quickly chased them away.
Spanish Surrender
By November 14, General Stuart's army was near Ciudadella. This was a major town on the island. The Spanish governor, Juan Nepomuceno de Quesada, didn't put up much of a fight. He surrendered Ciudadela on November 16. This meant the British now controlled the entire island.
About 4,000 Spanish soldiers were captured. The British also took a lot of supplies and weapons. Plus, four Spanish warships were captured. These included the Flora and Proserpina (both with 40 guns), and the Casilda and Pomona (both with 38 guns). Their crews were also captured.
What Happened After the Capture?
Menorca became one of Britain's most important naval bases in the Mediterranean. Many naval missions started from the island. For example, Thomas Cochrane, a famous naval captain, used Menorca as his base. General Charles Stuart served as the British Governor of Menorca from 1798 to 1800. After him, Henry Edward Fox took over.
Menorca Returned to Spain
In 1802, a peace agreement called the Treaty of Amiens was signed. One of the conditions was that Menorca had to be returned to Spain. Many British officers, including the famous Horatio Nelson, were against giving Menorca back. They even spoke in the House of Lords (a part of the British Parliament) to argue against it. But despite their objections, the treaty was finalized. The British commander, Richard Bickerton, oversaw the British leaving the island.
The peace didn't last long, and war broke out again. However, the British didn't try to take Menorca back. They had already set up other important naval bases elsewhere.
See also
In Spanish: Toma de Menorca (1798) para niños
