Relief of Gibraltar

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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