Ferrol Expedition Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Ferrol Expedition (1800)

Location of the boom protecting the city.

Date	25–26 August 1800
Location	Ferrol, Spain
Result	Spanish victory

Belligerents

Great Britain

Spain

Commanders and leaders

John Borlase Warren

James Pulteney

Edward Pellew

Count Donadio

Don Juan Moreno

Strength

15,000
109 ships, 5 ships of the line

4,000
6 ships of the line

Casualties and losses

500-1000 killed
500-1000 wounded

-100 killed
-150 wounded

The Ferrol Expedition was a short battle in August 1800. It was an attempt by the British to capture the Spanish city of Ferrol. This city was a very important naval base for Spain. It had shipyards where new ships were built and dry docks for repairs. But the British attack was not successful.

Why the British Attacked Ferrol
The Battle Begins
- Who Defended Ferrol?
- Fighting on Land
What Happened Next
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Why the British Attacked Ferrol

The British had a large fleet of 109 ships in 1800. Their main goal was to conquer a place called Belle Île. However, the defenses there seemed too strong to attack. So, the British fleet decided to sail to the coast of Spain instead. They arrived there on August 25.

The Battle Begins

The British ships started by firing their cannons at a small Spanish fort. This fort had eight large cannons. Several British warships, like HMS Impetueux and HMS London, took part in this attack.

After the fort was attacked, British soldiers landed on the coast. They landed near a place called Cape Prior. About 8,000 British troops landed with 16 field cannons. Sir Edward Pellew helped with the landing. The army was led by Sir James Pulteney.

Who Defended Ferrol?

The Spanish defenders of Ferrol included important leaders. Don Francisco Melgarejo was in charge of the naval department. Juan Moreno commanded the Spanish ships in the harbor. Don Francisco Xavier Negrété was the captain-general of the area. Field Marshal Count Donadio led the forts protecting the coast.

The Spanish also had several powerful warships in the harbor. These included the Real Carlos and San Hermenegildo. Each of these ships had 112 guns.

Fighting on Land

The British soldiers, especially their rifle-corps, moved up a hill. A group of Spanish soldiers attacked them, but the British pushed them back.

Early on August 26, a large group of Spanish soldiers attacked the British again. This happened on the heights of Brion and Balon. But the British managed to fight them off. The British had 16 soldiers killed and 68 wounded in these fights. These hills were important because they overlooked the city and harbor of Ferrol.

That night, the British leaders looked at the Spanish defenses. They saw that the forts were very strong. So, they decided to put their troops and cannons back on their ships. They left without capturing Ferrol.

What Happened Next

After failing to capture Ferrol, the British troops got back on their ships. Soon after, they tried another attack in October. This time, they aimed for the city of Cadiz. However, that attack also failed. Many British soldiers got sick with yellow fever, so they had to give up.

After the Ferrol attack, the British Prime Minister, William Pitt, spoke about it. He said that if Britain had a naval base as easy to defend as Ferrol, it would be like it was surrounded by a "thick silver wall." This showed how strong Ferrol's defenses were.