Invasion of Algiers (1775)

Invasion of Algiers
Part of Spanish-Barbary Conflicts (1694–1784)
Date 8 July 1775 Location Algiers, present day Algeria Result Decisive Algerian victory
Belligerents
Spain Grand Duchy of Tuscany	Ottoman Empire Regency of Algiers
Commanders and leaders
Alejandro O'Reilly Don Pedro Gonzalez de Castejon Sir John Acton, 6th Baronet	Unknown
Strength
20,000 soldiers, sailors and marines 50 warships 230 transports.	20,000 - 30,000
Casualties and losses
500-800 killed 2,000 wounded 2,000 prisoners	Unknown

 Ottoman Empire

The Invasion of Algiers was a massive amphibious attempt in July 1775 by the Spanish to seize the city of Algiers. King Charles III ordered an invasion of Algiers led by Alexander O'Reilly, who commanded a combined military and naval expedition of nearly fifty ships and more than twenty thousand troops. The assault was a spectacular failure and the campaign proved a humiliating blow to the Spanish military revival.

After the Spanish had broken the Moroccan siege of Melila in 1774 Charles's government decided to send a military and naval expedition off the North African coast, as he was determined to demonstrate to the Sultan Mohammed III that Spain would not waver in its resolve to hold onto its Moroccan enclaves. The Spanish objective was to occupy Algiers; a key and supposedly vulnerable Barbary port. The expedition was commanded by Alexander O'Reilly, an Irish officer who at a young age had entered Spanish military service. As head of the royal household guard in 1765, he had protected Charles III from a deadly assault and had crushed the rebellion by French settlers in the Louisiana Rebellion of 1768 after the territory had been transferred from France to Spain in 1763. In command of the naval task force was Don Pedro Gonzalez de Castejon with and together they organized a task force by late spring.

By now in June the task force was enormous; Seven ships of the line of which included San Francisco de Paula, Oriente, San Rafael, Diligente and San José. Then in addition twelve frigates, 27 gun boats, five hulks, nine feluccas, four mortar boats, seven galleys and three other vessels along with 230 transports. 20,000 Soldiers sailors and marines completed the complement and it set course from Cartagena, Spain for the Bay of Algiers, reaching its objective by the beginning of July.

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