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Action of 8 January 1780

January 01, 1970

Action of 8 January 1780
Part of the American Revolutionary War

George Rodney. Engraving from Edward Francis Finden
Date8 January 1780
Location
off Cape Finisterre
43°00′N 20°15′W / 43.000°N 20.250°W / 43.000; -20.250
Result British victory
Belligerents

Spain

 Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Don Juan Augustín de Yardi (POW) George Rodney
Strength
1 ship of the line
4 frigates
2 small warships
15 merchant ships		 20 ships of the line
6 frigates
Casualties and losses
All ships captured [1] light

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[2][3] 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.

Background edit

Main article: Great Siege of Gibraltar

One of Spain'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.[4] The Spanish consequently planned to retake Gibraltar by blockading and starving out its garrison, which included troops from Britain and the Electorate of Hanover.[5] The siege formally began in June 1779, with the Spanish establishing a land blockade around The Rock.[6] 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.[7]

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 Menorca.[8]

Action edit

On 4 January Rodney parted with the ship of the line HMS Hector under Sir John Hamilton, and the frigates HMS Phoenix, HMS Andromeda and HMS Greyhound under Captains Hyde Parker, H. Bryne and William Dickson respectively, to escort the West Indies-bound merchants.[9][10] The following day Rodney encountered a Spanish convoy consisting of 22 ships, bound from San Sebastián to Cádiz.[11]

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.[12] 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 HMS America and HMS Pearl.[9][13]

Aftermath edit

Rodney found the Spanish ships to be carrying provisions useful to Gibraltar and so used them to relieve the British forces there. In addition Rodney commissioned and manned the captured Spanish flagship, the 64-gun Guipuzcoana, naming her HMS Prince William, in honour of Prince William, who was present at the engagement.[13][14] 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".[13] 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 Menorca. The 16-gun San Fermin that was captured in this action was also commissioned to serve in the Royal Navy, and then would be recovered by the Spanish in April 1781.

Ships involved edit

The order of battle is as reported by Beatson.[9]

British fleet edit

Spanish fleet edit

Caracas Company warships edit

  • 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 Fermín (16) Captain J. Vin. Eloy Sanchez
  • San Vicente (10) Captain Don José de Ugalde

Merchants edit

  • Nuestra Señora de L'Oves
  • San Francisco
  • La Concepción
  • San Nicolás
  • San Jerónimo
  • Divina Providencia
  • San Gavilán
  • San Pacora
  • San Lauren
  • La Providencia
  • La Bellona
  • Esperanza
  • Le Cidada de Mercia
  • La Amistad
  • San Miguel

References edit

Citations
  1. ^ Basil p.218
  2. ^ Syrett (2007), p. 304
  3. ^ Syrett (1998), p. 85
  4. ^ Chartrand, pp. 12, 30
  5. ^ Chartrand, pp. 23, 30–31, 37
  6. ^ Chartrand, p. 30
  7. ^ Chartrand, p. 37
  8. ^ Syrett (2007), p. 237
  9. ^ a b c Beatson. Naval and Military Memoirs of Great Britain. pp. 232–3.
  10. ^ Syrett (2007), p. 303
  11. ^ "No. 12056". The London Gazette. 8 January 1780. p. 1.
  12. ^ "No. 12050". The London Gazette. 18 January 1780. p. 2.
  13. ^ a b c Syrett. The Rodney papers: Selections from the Correspondence of Admiral Lord Rodney. pp. 304–5.
  14. ^ Winfield. British Warships of the Age of Sail. p. 101.
Bibliography
  • Allen, Joseph (1853). Battles of the British Navy. Vol. 1. H.G. Bohn.
  • Beatson, Robert (1804). Naval and Military Memoirs of Great Britain, From 1727 to 1783. Vol. 6. Longman, Hurst, Rees and Orme.
  • Chartrand, René (2006). . Courcelle, Patrice (1st ed.). Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-977-6. OCLC 255272192. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  • The life and correspondence of the late Admiral Lord Rodney, Volume 1 By Godfrey Basil Mundy
  • Syrett, David (1998). The Royal Navy in European waters during the American Revolutionary War. Univ of South Carolina Press. ISBN 1-57003-238-6.
  • Syrett, David (2007). The Rodney Papers: Selections from the Correspondence of Admiral Lord Rodney. Vol. 2. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7546-6007-1.
  • Winfield, Rif (2007). British Warships of the Age of Sail 1714–1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-86176-295-5.

January 01, 1970
action, january, 1780, part, american, revolutionary, wargeorge, rodney, engraving, from, edward, francis, findendate8, january, 1780locationoff, cape, finisterre43, 250resultbritish, victorybelligerentsspain, caracas, company, great, britaincommanders, leader. Action of 8 January 1780Part of the American Revolutionary WarGeorge Rodney Engraving from Edward Francis FindenDate8 January 1780Locationoff Cape Finisterre43 00 N 20 15 W 43 000 N 20 250 W 43 000 20 250ResultBritish victoryBelligerentsSpain Caracas company Great BritainCommanders and leadersDon Juan Augustin de Yardi POW George RodneyStrength1 ship of the line4 frigates2 small warships15 merchant ships20 ships of the line6 frigatesCasualties and lossesAll ships captured 1 light 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 2 3 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 Contents 1 Background 2 Action 3 Aftermath 4 Ships involved 4 1 British fleet 4 2 Spanish fleet 4 2 1 Caracas Company warships 4 2 2 Merchants 5 ReferencesBackground editMain article Great Siege of Gibraltar One of Spain 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 4 The Spanish consequently planned to retake Gibraltar by blockading and starving out its garrison which included troops from Britain and the Electorate of Hanover 5 The siege formally began in June 1779 with the Spanish establishing a land blockade around The Rock 6 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 7 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 Menorca 8 Action editOn 4 January Rodney parted with the ship of the line HMS Hector under Sir John Hamilton and the frigates HMS Phoenix HMS Andromeda and HMS Greyhound under Captains Hyde Parker H Bryne and William Dickson respectively to escort the West Indies bound merchants 9 10 The following day Rodney encountered a Spanish convoy consisting of 22 ships bound from San Sebastian to Cadiz 11 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 12 Vessels which had been carrying naval stores to the Spanish fleet at Cadiz and baled goods for the Royal Caracas Company were sent back to England escorted by HMS America and HMS Pearl 9 13 Aftermath editRodney found the Spanish ships to be carrying provisions useful to Gibraltar and so used them to relieve the British forces there In addition Rodney commissioned and manned the captured Spanish flagship the 64 gun Guipuzcoana naming her HMS Prince William in honour of Prince William who was present at the engagement 13 14 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 13 Several days later Rodney engaged and defeated a Spanish fleet under Don Juan de Langara at the Battle of Cape St Vincent on 16 January 1780 before going on to relieve Gibraltar and Menorca The 16 gun San Fermin that was captured in this action was also commissioned to serve in the Royal Navy and then would be recovered by the Spanish in April 1781 Ships involved editThe order of battle is as reported by Beatson 9 British fleet edit HMS Sandwich 90 Admiral Sir George Brydges Rodney Captain Walter Young HMS Prince George 98 Rear Admiral Robert Digby Captain Philip Patton HMS Royal George 100 Rear Admiral John Lockhart Ross Captain J Bourmaster HMS Alcide 74 Captain J Brisbane HMS Ajax 74 Captain S Uvedale HMS Bedford 74 Captain Edmund Affleck HMS Culloden 74 Captain George Balfour HMS Cumberland 74 Captain J Peyton HMS Edgar 74 Captain John Elliot HMS Montagu 74 Captain J Houlton HMS Monarch 74 Captain Adam Duncan HMS Shrewsbury 74 Captain Mark Robinson HMS Terrible 74 Captain J Douglas HMS Resolution 74 Captain Chaloner Ogle HMS Invincible 74 Captain S Cornish HMS Defence 74 Captain James Cranston HMS Marlborough 74 Captain T Penny HMS Dublin 74 Captain S Wallis HMS America 64 Captain S Thompson HMS Bienfaisant 64 Captain John MacBride HMS Convert 32 Captain Henry Harvey HMS Pearl 28 Captain George Montagu HMS Triton 24 Captain Skeffington Lutwidge HMS Pegasus 24 Captain John Bazely HMS Porcupine 24 Captain Lord Hugh Seymour HMS Hyaena 24 Captain Edward Thomson Spanish fleet edit Caracas Company warships edit Guipuzcoano 64 Commodore Don Juan Augustin de Yardi Captain Don Tomas 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 Fermin 16 Captain J Vin Eloy Sanchez San Vicente 10 Captain Don Jose de Ugalde Merchants edit Nuestra Senora de L Oves San Francisco La Concepcion San Nicolas San Jeronimo Divina Providencia San Gavilan San Pacora San Lauren La Providencia La Bellona Esperanza Le Cidada de Mercia La Amistad San MiguelReferences editCitations Basil p 218 Syrett 2007 p 304 Syrett 1998 p 85 Chartrand pp 12 30 Chartrand pp 23 30 31 37 Chartrand p 30 Chartrand p 37 Syrett 2007 p 237 a b c Beatson Naval and Military Memoirs of Great Britain pp 232 3 Syrett 2007 p 303 No 12056 The London Gazette 8 January 1780 p 1 No 12050 The London Gazette 18 January 1780 p 2 a b c Syrett The Rodney papers Selections from the Correspondence of Admiral Lord Rodney pp 304 5 Winfield British Warships of the Age of Sail p 101 Bibliography Allen Joseph 1853 Battles of the British Navy Vol 1 H G Bohn Beatson Robert 1804 Naval and Military Memoirs of Great Britain From 1727 to 1783 Vol 6 Longman Hurst Rees and Orme Chartrand Rene 2006 Gibraltar 1779 1783 The Great Siege Courcelle Patrice 1st ed Oxford Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1 84176 977 6 OCLC 255272192 Archived from the original on 27 September 2007 Retrieved 15 August 2011 The life and correspondence of the late Admiral Lord Rodney Volume 1 By Godfrey Basil Mundy Syrett David 1998 The Royal Navy in European waters during the American Revolutionary War Univ of South Carolina Press ISBN 1 57003 238 6 Syrett David 2007 The Rodney Papers Selections from the Correspondence of Admiral Lord Rodney Vol 2 Ashgate Publishing Ltd ISBN 978 0 7546 6007 1 Winfield Rif 2007 British Warships of the Age of Sail 1714 1792 Design Construction Careers and Fates Seaforth ISBN 978 1 86176 295 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Action of 8 January 1780 amp oldid 1145161857, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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