Siege of Cork

Part of the Williamite War in Ireland

Date	September 1690
Location	Cork and Kinsale, Ireland
Result	Williamite victory

Belligerents

Jacobite Irish forces

Williamite forces - English and Danish troops

Commanders and leaders

Roger MacElliot
Cornelius O'Driscoll †
Sir Edward Scott

Duke of Marlborough
Duke of Württemberg

Strength

9,000 troops and a naval fleet

Casualties and losses

The Siege of Cork took place during the Williamite war in Ireland in the year of 1690, shortly after the Battle of the Boyne when James II attempted to retake the English throne from King William III.

In a combined land and sea operation, Williamite commander Marlborough, took the city and captured 5,000 Jacobite prisoners.

After the Boyne, William occupied Dublin and the Jacobites retreated to the west of Ireland. William assaulted Limerick in August 1690 but was repulsed. To secure the Jacobite-held ports of Cork and Kinsale on the southern coast, he dispatched a force under John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (then 1st Earl).

Marlborough reached Cork by sea on 21 September 1690. His English forces were 5,000 strong and he also had at his disposal a fleet which blockaded the port of Cork. He landed his troops at Passage West on 24 September and set up his base at Red Abbey, to the south of the walled city. Approaching from the northern, landward, side were 4,000 Danish troops under the Duke of Württemberg.

The Williamites took the forts (such as Elizabeth Fort) which commanded the hills around Cork and commenced a bombardment of the city from the heights. When a breach was opened in the city walls, the town's garrisoned opened surrender negotiations, asking to be allowed to leave Cork and join the main Jacobite army at Limerick. Marlborough refused the request, although Württemberg was in favour of granting the terms.

A few days later, the Williamites mounted a joint English-Danish assault of the breach from the south. When the Williamites reached the walls, the Governor of Cork, McElliot, opened new surrender talks and agreed that the garrison would become prisoners and would surrender their arms and stores. Marlborough accepted and the town surrendered.

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