Battle of Manila (1762)
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Manila was fought during the Seven Years' War
(known as the French and Indian War
in the United States), from September 24, 1762 to October 6, 1762, between the Kingdom of Great Britain
and the Kingdom of Spain in and around Manila
, the capital of the Philippines
, a Spanish colony at that time.
. When war broke out with Spain, they were available to be employed against the Spanish possessions in Asia.
In June 1762, Rear-Admiral Samuel Cornish
received secret royal orders for an expedition, which he communicated to the authorities at Calcutta. The inspiration for the attack was as much dreams of loot as plans for geopolitical advantage, and the expedition received limited support from the East India Company.
On August 1, 1762, a British fleet of eight ships of the line, three frigates, and four store ships, sailed away from Madras with a force of 6,839 regulars, sailors and marines
. The commander of the expedition was Brigadier-General William Draper. He was assisted by Colonel Monson as Second in Command, Major Scott as Adjutant-General and Captain Fletcher as Brigade-Major of the East India Company. The expeditionary force consisted of:
and anchored off Fort Cavite
. The following day, Draper landed his troops unopposed through heavy surf, about 2.5 km south of the walls of the city. A substantial number of Royal Marines and sailors were then detached from the fleet. The garrison of Manila consisted of the Royal Regiment (20 companies of 100 men each). These companies were far from being at full strength. Mortality, desertion and various detachments had reduced this regiment to some 565 soldiers. There were only 80 artillerymen, including some Filipinos. A day later Draper seized a detached fort which had been abandoned by the Spaniards within 200 meters of the glacis
, and began to construct a battery, while the ships sailed up to draw the fire of the town upon themselves.
On September 30, a British storeship arrived with entrenching tools, but was driven ashore by a gale. Fortunately, she had run aground so that she screened the rear of Draper's camp from the Spanish cannon. Her stores were landed with greater speed and safety than would have been possible had she remained afloat for the gale continued for several days and forbade the passage of boats through the surf.
On October 4, the weather conditions improved. The battery and the ships opened fire and in 4 hours silenced the guns of Manila. By the next day, the British cannonade had made a practicable breach in the fortifications of Manila. During the following night, the Spaniards made a sally upon the British position with 1,000 Filipinos and were driven back with heavy loss. However, at dawn, Draper's regiment and a party of sailors attacked the breach and took the fortifications with little difficulty. To prevent further slaughter, acting Governor and Captain-General Archbishop Manuel Rojo
surrendered the citadel and the port of Cavite
as soon as the city fell, promising four million Mexican silver dollars for ransom of the town, lives, and of the property therein.
Thus, Manila fell within 10 days of the arrival of the British and on the 10th of October, Manila was placed under the authority of civilian Dawson Drake.
and later by his wife Gabriela
, but the British force never materialized and the uprising was suppressed.
The four million dollars has never been fully paid, but the expedition was rewarding nevertheless, after the capture of a treasure ship, the Santísima Trinidad, with a value of two million dollars on board.
The city remained in British hands for 18 months and was returned to Spain in April 1764 after the Treaty of Paris (1763)
.
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
(known as the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
in the United States), from September 24, 1762 to October 6, 1762, between the Kingdom of Great Britain
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
and the Kingdom of Spain in and around Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, the capital of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, a Spanish colony at that time.
Prelude
British troops stationed in India were idle since the fall of PondicherryBattle of Wandiwash
The Battle of Wandiwash was a decisive battle in India during the Seven Years' War. The Count de Lally's army, burdened by a lack of naval support and funds, attempted to regain the fort at Vandavasi near Pondicherry. He was attacked by Sir Eyre Coote's forces and decisively defeated...
. When war broke out with Spain, they were available to be employed against the Spanish possessions in Asia.
In June 1762, Rear-Admiral Samuel Cornish
Sir Samuel Cornish, 1st Baronet
Sir Samuel Cornish, 1st Baronet was a British naval commander who fought in the Seven Years' War and conquered Manila on October 6, 1762....
received secret royal orders for an expedition, which he communicated to the authorities at Calcutta. The inspiration for the attack was as much dreams of loot as plans for geopolitical advantage, and the expedition received limited support from the East India Company.
On August 1, 1762, a British fleet of eight ships of the line, three frigates, and four store ships, sailed away from Madras with a force of 6,839 regulars, sailors and marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
. The commander of the expedition was Brigadier-General William Draper. He was assisted by Colonel Monson as Second in Command, Major Scott as Adjutant-General and Captain Fletcher as Brigade-Major of the East India Company. The expeditionary force consisted of:
- 79th Draper's Regiment of Foot79th Regiment of Foot (1757)The 79th Regiment of Foot was formed in 1757 at the beginning of the Seven Years' War.It moved to India in 1758 and saw service in the third Carnatic War. In 1762 the regiment took part in the successful invasion of Manila, capital of the Spanish-controlled Philippines.Its commander was Brigadier...
(450 men) - composite battalions of sepoys (drawn from all the Madras Sepoy regiments) under Captain DesPlans (2,000 men)
- French deserters under Lieutenant Martin (200 men)
- other assorted troops (freed African slaves, native Christian Indians who claimed to have Portuguese descent, NawabNawabA Nawab or Nawaab is an honorific title given to Muslim rulers of princely states in South Asia. It is the Muslim equivalent of the term "maharaja" that was granted to Hindu rulers....
European infantry, ...)
The battle
On September 24, after much delay owing to stormy weather and the defective condition of Admiral Cornish's ships, the expedition entered the Manila BayManila Bay
Manila Bay is a natural harbor which serves the Port of Manila , in the Philippines.The bay is considered to be one of the best natural harbors in Southeast Asia and one of the finest in the world...
and anchored off Fort Cavite
Cavite City
The City of Cavite is a fourth class city in the province of Cavite, Philippines. The city occupies a hook shaped peninsula jutting out into Manila Bay. Cavite City used to be the capital of the province...
. The following day, Draper landed his troops unopposed through heavy surf, about 2.5 km south of the walls of the city. A substantial number of Royal Marines and sailors were then detached from the fleet. The garrison of Manila consisted of the Royal Regiment (20 companies of 100 men each). These companies were far from being at full strength. Mortality, desertion and various detachments had reduced this regiment to some 565 soldiers. There were only 80 artillerymen, including some Filipinos. A day later Draper seized a detached fort which had been abandoned by the Spaniards within 200 meters of the glacis
Glacis
A glacis in military engineering is an artificial slope of earth used in late European fortresses so constructed as to keep any potential assailant under the fire of the defenders until the last possible moment...
, and began to construct a battery, while the ships sailed up to draw the fire of the town upon themselves.
On September 30, a British storeship arrived with entrenching tools, but was driven ashore by a gale. Fortunately, she had run aground so that she screened the rear of Draper's camp from the Spanish cannon. Her stores were landed with greater speed and safety than would have been possible had she remained afloat for the gale continued for several days and forbade the passage of boats through the surf.
On October 4, the weather conditions improved. The battery and the ships opened fire and in 4 hours silenced the guns of Manila. By the next day, the British cannonade had made a practicable breach in the fortifications of Manila. During the following night, the Spaniards made a sally upon the British position with 1,000 Filipinos and were driven back with heavy loss. However, at dawn, Draper's regiment and a party of sailors attacked the breach and took the fortifications with little difficulty. To prevent further slaughter, acting Governor and Captain-General Archbishop Manuel Rojo
Manuel Rojo del Rio y Vieyra
Manuel Antonio Rojo del Rio y Vieyra was a Mexican friar who served as the Archbishop of Manila and Governor-General of the Philippines at the commencement of the 1762–1764 British occupation of Manila.-Early life:Rojo del Rio was born in Tula, Mexico on September 24, 1708...
surrendered the citadel and the port of Cavite
Cavite
Cavite is a province of the Philippines located on the southern shores of Manila Bay in the CALABARZON region in Luzon, just 30 kilometers south of Manila. Cavite is surrounded by Laguna to the east, Metro Manila to the northeast, and Batangas to the south...
as soon as the city fell, promising four million Mexican silver dollars for ransom of the town, lives, and of the property therein.
Thus, Manila fell within 10 days of the arrival of the British and on the 10th of October, Manila was placed under the authority of civilian Dawson Drake.
Aftermath
The British held Manila until it was returned to Spain according to the peace settlement. News that it had been lost did not reach Spain until after the cessation of hostilities between the two powers. During their time in the Philippines, the British found their force unable to establish British control of the Philippines. The British promised support for an uprising led first by Diego SilangDiego Silang
Diego Silang y Andaya was a revolutionary leader who conspired with British forces to overthrow Spanish rule in the northern Philippines and establish an independent Ilocano nation...
and later by his wife Gabriela
Gabriela Silang
María Josefa Gabriela Cariño Silang was the wife of the Ilocano insurgent leader, Diego Silang. Following Diego's assassination in 1763, she led the group for four months before she was captured and executed....
, but the British force never materialized and the uprising was suppressed.
The four million dollars has never been fully paid, but the expedition was rewarding nevertheless, after the capture of a treasure ship, the Santísima Trinidad, with a value of two million dollars on board.
The city remained in British hands for 18 months and was returned to Spain in April 1764 after the Treaty of Paris (1763)
Treaty of Paris (1763)
The Treaty of Paris, often called the Peace of Paris, or the Treaty of 1763, was signed on 10 February 1763, by the kingdoms of Great Britain, France and Spain, with Portugal in agreement. It ended the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War...
.
See also
- Battle of ManilaBattle of Manila- Land battles :* Battle of Manila - Spanish forces and their various allies drove out the ruling Muslim elite and founded the capital city of the Philippines* Battle of Manila - A British victory in the Seven Years' War* Battle of Manila - U.S...
for other battles - Military History of the PhilippinesMilitary history of the Philippines-Battle of Mactan:The Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521, is celebrated as the earliest reported resistance of the natives in the Philippines against foreign invaders. Lapu-Lapu, a Chieftain of Mactan Island, defeated Christian European explorers led by the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand...
- British occupation of the PhilippinesBritish occupation of the PhilippinesThe British occupation of Manila occurred between 1762 and 1764, when a British force occupied Manila, the Spanish colonial capital of the Philippines, and the nearby principal port, Cavite, both on Manila Bay....