Battle of Cádiz (1669)

Battle of Cádiz
Engraving of the battle by Wenceslaus Hollar, an eyewitness
Date 18–19 December 1669 Location near Cádiz Result English Victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of England	Regency of Algiers
Commanders and leaders
Rear-Admiral John Kempthorne	unknown
Strength
Mary Rose 48 (flag) Roe 8 (ketch) King David Hamburg merchantman Scottish merchantman French merchantman A pink	Golden Lion 36 (flag) Orange Tree 36 Half Moon 41 Seven Stars 32 White Horse 30 Blewhart 28 Rose Leaf 18
Casualties and losses
12 killed 18 wounded 1 Merchant captured (later recaptured)	Heavy Many ships damaged

Mary Rose 48 (flag)
Roe 8 (ketch)

12 killed
18 wounded

On 18–19 December 1669, a battle took place in the waters near Cádiz between the English fourth-rate frigate Mary Rose under the command of Rear-Admiral John Kempthorne, escorting several merchantmen, and a group of seven pirate ships operating out of Algiers. The incident was recorded and drawn by the engraver Wenceslaus Hollar, with an engraving appearing in John Ogilby's Africa.

The action occurred while the Mary Rose was returning from a diplomatic mission to Mulay Rashid (referred to as "Tafiletta" in early English sources), the sultan of Morocco, that had been conducted by Lord Henry Howard, with Hollar accompanying him in order to complete some drawings and maps of Tangier that he had begun some years earlier. The frigate was towing a merchant ship, the King David, that Kempthorne had recaptured from Barbary pirates, and was accompanied by five other vessels. The convoy encountered a group of seven pirate ships on the 18th December 1669, with six attacking the Mary Rose while one pursued the King David that Kempthorne had cut loose. The pirates withdrew as night fell, resuming their attack on the morning of the 19th. Despite the Mary Rose sustaining damage to all three masts, she held off the attack, and the pirates withdrew, capturing only the King David. After repairs at Cádiz the Mary Rose returned to England in April 1670, and Kempthorne was knighted for "his very great valour". A version of Hollar's engraving of the battle was done by Willem van de Velde the Younger.

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