British Occupation of the Philippines

British Manila
Occupation of Manila by the British Empire
1762–1764
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Map of the Spanish East Indies (19th century)
Capital		Manila, Bacolor, Pampanga (Spanish Philippine colonial government retains control outside of Manila and Cavite)
Languages		Spanish and native languages.
Religion		Roman Catholicism
Political structure		Occupation of Manila by the British Empire
Monarch
•	1760–1820	George III
Governor-General
•	1762–1764	Dawsonne Drake
Historical era		Spanish colonisation
•	Battle of Manila	6 October 1762
•	Treaty of Paris	31 May 1764
Currency		Spanish dollar
Preceded by Succeeded by Spanish East Indies Spanish East Indies
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The British occupation of Manila was an episode in Philippine colonial history when the British Empire occupied the Spanish colonial capital of Manila and the nearby principal port of Cavite for twenty months between 1762 and 1764.

The British wanted to use Manila as an entrepôt for trade in the region, particularly with China. In addition, a ransom for the city was delivered to the Spanish on the basis that the city would not be sacked or burnt. The resistance from the provisional Spanish colonial government established by members of the Royal Audience of Manila led by Lieutenant Governor Simón de Anda y Salazar and their Filipino allies prevented British forces from taking control of territory beyond the neighbouring towns of Manila and Cavite. The British occupation ended as part of the peace settlement of the Seven Years' War.

At the time, Britain and France were belligerents in what was later called the Seven Years' War. As the war progressed, the neutral Spanish government became concerned that the string of major French losses at the hands of the British were becoming a threat to Spanish interests. Britain first declared war against Spain on 4 January 1762, and on 18 January 1762, Spain issued their own declaration of war against Britain. France successfully negotiated a treaty with Spain known as the Family Compact which was signed on 15 August 1761. By an ancillary secret convention, Spain became hurriedly committed to making preparations for war against Britain.