Ferrol Expedition (1800)

Ferrol Expedition (1800)
Part of the War of the Second Coalition
Date 25 - 26th August, 1800
Location Ferrol, Spain
Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
 Great Britain  Spain
Commanders and leaders
James Pulteney
Edward Pellew		 Count Donadio
Don Juan Moreno
Strength
15,000 men
estimated 80-115 ships.[1][2][3][4]		 2,000 men
6 ships of the line
Casualties and losses
16 dead, 68 wounded 37 dead, 102 wounded

The Ferrol Expedition (or Battle of Brión) took place on 25 and 26 August 1800, and was an unsuccessful british attempt to capture Ferrol from Spain.[5]

Background

The primary object of the British fleet during the year 1800 was the conquest of Belle Île but the defences appeared too strong. The expedition therefore proceeded to the coast of Spain, where it arrived on 25 August.

Battle

After a heavy cannonade against the Spanish positions by the British ships of the line HMS Impetueux, HMS London, HMS Courageux, HMS Renown and HMS Captain, under the command of under the superintendence of Sir Edward Pellew, the British effected a landing at a small opening near Cape Prior. The army commander was Lieutenant-general Sir James Pulteney.

The Spanish defenders of Ferrol were:

Aftermath

The embarkation of the troops and artillery was effected, and soon after this failure on the coast of Galicia, another expedition, equally unsuccessful was directed against the city of Cadiz. After the unsuccessful attempt to capture Ferrol, the British Prime Minister William Pitt said in the House of Commons that: If Great Britain had a naval station so easy to defend as Ferrol, due to its location, it would have been surrounded by a thick silver wall.

Footnotes

  1. ^ D'Esménard, p. 76
  2. ^ Escrigas p. 9
  3. ^ Philippart,p. 176
  4. ^ p. 980 "Debate on Mr. Stuart's Motion respecting the Failure of the Expedition to Ferrol"
  5. ^ Black, p 67

References