George Anson's capture of a Manila galleon by Samuel Scott.
One of the more curious and lesser known chapters in the history of conflicts between Spain and England was the strangely named ‘War of Jenkins’ Ear’ that took place between 1739 and 1748.
The title of the war relates to an incident in 1731 when the British merchant vessel Rebecca was boarded by the Spanish coastguard – during which Captain Robert Jenkins had his ear sliced off by a belligerent Spanish coast guard captain called Julio Leon Fandino.
Under the Treaty of Utrecht an agreement had been reached for a thirty year asiento (contract) allowing the British to import up to 500 tons of goods a year into the Spanish colonies and also to trade an unlimited number of slaves. It was Julio Leon Fandino’s boarding of the British vessel to check on the cargo and his belief that Jenkins was smuggling goods above the agreed quota that led to the removal of the captain’s ear.
BIG BANG WHAT DID THE MOORS DO FOR US?
The Spanish captain accused Captain Jenkins of piracy on the high seas and, returning the severed organ to Jenkins, informed him to “go and tell your king that I will do the same to him, if he dares do the same!”
Relations between the Spain and Britain steadily worsened over the next few years and the British made frequent incursions into the Spanish colonies in the Caribbean and the isthmus of Central America.
In due course, the ear-challenged Captain Jenkins was asked to appear before a committee of the House of Commons. Reputedly, he waved a bottle containing the pickled, shrivelled and fossilised appendage at the assembled, furious members of Parliament.
Jenkin’s parliamentary appearance in March 1738 together with other incidents, were considered sufficient to give ‘casus belli’ or a justifiable cause for war against Spain. Having said that, the British had recently attacked the Spanish silver exporting town of Porto Bello in Panama with six Men of War and stayed in occupation for over six weeks causing ever greater tension to mount between the two countries.
In fact, it was the British public’s approval of the occupation in Panama that led to the naming of Portobello Road in London and also the small village (now a suburb) of Portobello near Edinburgh on the River Forth. It was also at this time that anti-Spanish, bellicose public sentiment was inflamed with the first singing of the song Rule Britannia at a dinner to honour the Commodore of the successful British squadron, Admiral Vernon.
The War of Jenkins’ Ear between Britain and Spain continued over the next few years, with skirmishes by the British in 1741 and 1742 into the Spanish colonies of New Granada (nowadays Colombia), Cuba and Venezuela. The Spanish retaliated by unsuccessfully attacking the British colony of Georgia on the American mainland in 1742.
Eventually hostilities between Great Britain and Spain where overtaken by the wider pan European war of Austrian Succession, which polarised the major countries of Europe into two competing alliances. Although still at war with Spain, Britain’s main focus became France and the threat of invasion of southern England.
THE BORGIAS ALL THE KING’S MEN EL CID
The war of Austrian Succession finally came to an end in 1748 with The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. Two years later in 1750 the Treaty of Madrid between Britain and Spain bought the start of much improved diplomatic reactions between the two countries. Indeed, Britain wished to cultivate Spain as an ally and Spain wished not to be seen as a puppet of France. As a result of the Treaty, Britain once again traded with the Spanish colonies and in the Seven Years War of 1754-1763 (mainly between Britain and France) Spain was a neutral country.
As for Captain Jenkins?
Well, he continued his career as a sailor and was, for a brief time, in charge of the island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic although as for his ear – history fails to record what happened to it…
Iain Henderson - Culture Spain
Iain lives in Spain, was a professional soldier and is a businessman who has lived in many different parts of the world. His lovely villa in Valencia, Spain is available for rent during the summer months.
FURTHER ARTICLES ON THE HISTORY OF SPAIN
BIG BANG - The birth of modern Spain and the astonishing rise of Spain as it was united and became the greatest power in Europe helped, of course, by its merciless conquistadors.
WHAT DID THE MOORS DO FOR US? – The Moors entered Spain in 711 and left (reluctantly) hundreds of later. Although they are much reviled now, in fact they contributed an amazing amount to both Spain and Europe.
THE BORGIAS - Few families in the world have been as notorious as the Borgias with Lucrezia Borgia and Caesar Borgia famous worldwide. Were they really as bad that portrayed?
ALL THE KING’S MEN - Politics in Spain and the thrilling story of the death of General Franco, the development of democracy in Spain and the deadly Tejero crisis.
EL CID – genuine Spanish hero and extraordinary soldier, who never lost a battle!