Bombardment of Algiers (1816)

Bombardment of Algiers
Bombardment of Algiers, 1823, by Martinus Schouman.
Date 27 August 1816 Location Algiers, Algeria Result Decisive Anglo-Dutch victory 3000 slaves freed.
Belligerents
United Kingdom  United Netherlands	Regency of Algiers
Commanders and leaders
Lord Exmouth Theodorus Frederik van Capellen	Omar Agha
Strength
27 ships (5 ships of the line)	Garrison of 8,000 men, 30,000 irregular troops in and around Algiers, shore batteries with ~1,000 cannon several frigates and sloops, ~90 boats.
Casualties and losses
128 dead, 690 wounded (British) 13 dead, 52 wounded (Dutch)	Reportedly 500 – 7000 dead 4 frigates and 5 corvettes burnt, 33 boats destroyed

Decisive Anglo-Dutch victory

The Bombardment of Algiers (27 August 1816) was an attempt by Britain and the Netherlands to end the slavery practices of Omar Agha, the Dey of Algiers. An Anglo-Dutch fleet under the command of Admiral Lord Exmouth bombarded ships and the harbour defences of Algiers.

There was a continuing campaign by various European navies and the American navy to suppress the piracy against Europeans by the North African Barbary states. The specific aim of this expedition, however, was to free Christian slaves and to stop the practice of enslaving Europeans. To this end, it was partially successful, as the Dey of Algiers freed around 3,000 slaves following the bombardment and signed a treaty against the slavery of Europeans. However, this practice did not end completely until the French conquest of Algeria.

Following the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815, the Royal Navy no longer needed the Barbary states as a source of supplies for Gibraltar and their fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. This freed Britain to exert considerable political pressure to force the Barbary states to end their piracy and practice of enslaving European Christians.

In early 1816, Exmouth undertook a diplomatic mission to Tunis, Tripoli, and Algiers, backed by a small squadron of ships of the line, to convince the Deys to stop the practice and free the Christian slaves. The Deys of Tunis and Tripoli agreed without any resistance, but the Dey of Algiers was more recalcitrant and the negotiations were stormy. Exmouth believed that he had managed to negotiate a treaty to stop the slavery of Christians and returned to England. However, due to confused orders, Algerian troops massacred 200 Corsican, Sicilian, and Sardinian fishermen who were under British protection just after the treaty was signed. This caused outrage in Britain and Europe, and Exmouth's negotiations were seen as a failure.

...
Wikipedia