Great Siege of Gibraltar

Part of the American War of Independence

The Sortie Made by the Garrison of Gibraltar,
by John Trumbull, 1788,

Date	24 June 1779 – 7 February 1783
Location	Gibraltar 36°08′23″N 5°21′18″W / 36.1397°N 5.3551°W / 36.1397; -5.3551Coordinates: 36°08′23″N 5°21′18″W / 36.1397°N 5.3551°W / 36.1397; -5.3551
Result	Decisive British victory

Belligerents

Great Britain

Hanover

Spain

France

Commanders and leaders

George Augustus Eliott

Roger Curtis

August de la Motte

Duc de Crillon

Martín Álvarez de Sotomayor

Luis de Córdova y Córdova

Antonio Barceló

Strength

June 1779:
5,382 men;
September 1782:
7,500(including 500 gunners) men
96 guns
12 gunboats

June 1779:
13,749 men
September 1782:
33,000 soldiers
30,000 sailors & marines
86 land guns and mortars;
47 ships of the line,
several xebecs and gunboats&
10 floating batteries

Casualties and losses

333 killed
911 wounded
536 died from disease.

6,000 killed, wounded, captured and missing,
9 ships sunk,
1 ship of the line captured

Great Britain

The Great Siege of Gibraltar was an unsuccessful attempt by Spain and France to capture Gibraltar from the British during the American War of Independence. This was the largest action fought during the war in terms of numbers, particularly the Grand Assault of 18 September 1782. At three years and seven months, it is the longest siege endured by the British Armed Forces.

In 1738 a dispute between Spain and Great Britain arose over commerce between Europe and the Americas. Initially, both sides intended to sign an agreement at the Spanish Royal Palace of El Pardo, but in January of the following year, the British Parliament rejected the advice of Foreign Minister Robert Walpole, a supporter of the agreement with Spain. A short time later, the War of Jenkins' Ear began, and both countries declared war on 23 October 1739, each side drawing up plans to establish trenches near Gibraltar. Seeing these first movements, Britain ordered Admiral Vernon to sail from Portobello and strengthen the squadron of Admiral Haddock who was already stationed in the Bay of Gibraltar.

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