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Invasion of Georgia (1742)
Encyclopedia
The 1742 Invasion of Georgia saw a Spanish
military force invade and attempt to occupy the British
colony of Georgia as part of the War of Jenkins' Ear
. Local British forces under the command of the Governor James Oglethorpe
rallied and defeated the Spaniards at the Battle of Bloody Marsh
and the Battle of Gully Hole Creek
, forcing them to withdraw. Britain's ownership of Georgia was formally recognised by Spain in the subsequent Treaty of Madrid
.
and disputed what was regarded as an illegal occupation by the British settlers. The Convention of Pardo
in 1739 had attempted to settle the dispute, but Spain still refused to abandon its claim. When the War of Jenkins' Ear
broke out that same year, Spain began drawing up plans for an invasion.
The British governor of Georgia, James Oglethorpe, organised a small force and launched a British invasion of Florida in 1740, hoping to forestall a similar Spanish invasion of Georgia. The British besieged St. Augustine
but were forced to withdraw. The stage was then set for the Spanish commander Manuel de Montiano
to launch his long-awaited attack on Georgia. Because of the pressing demands on British resources in other theatres, no further reinforcements could be dispatched to aid defend the colony from attack.
. He landed on St Simons Island in Georgia
which he intended to use as his base for a full-scale takeover of the colony. Montanio began gathering intelligence about the strength of British opposition.
In the months after the invasion, Oglethorpe considered launching further counter-attacks against Florida
, but circumstances were not favourable. The focus of the war had shifted from the Americas
to Europe
and arms, supplies and troops were not readily available. The region descended into an uneasy peace, occasionally punctuated by minor skirmishes. The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle ended the war in 1748 and recognised the status of Georgia as a British colony. Its position was further secured in 1763 when Florida
became a British possession as part of the Treaty of Paris
ending the Seven Year's War.
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
military force invade and attempt to occupy the British
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...
colony of Georgia as part of the War of Jenkins' Ear
War of Jenkins' Ear
The War of Jenkins' Ear was a conflict between Great Britain and Spain that lasted from 1739 to 1748, with major operations largely ended by 1742. Its unusual name, coined by Thomas Carlyle in 1858, relates to Robert Jenkins, captain of a British merchant ship, who exhibited his severed ear in...
. Local British forces under the command of the Governor James Oglethorpe
James Oglethorpe
James Edward Oglethorpe was a British general, member of Parliament, philanthropist, and founder of the colony of Georgia...
rallied and defeated the Spaniards at the Battle of Bloody Marsh
Battle of Bloody Marsh
The Battle of Bloody Marsh took place on July 18, 1742 between Spanish and British forces, and the latter were victorious. Part of the War of Jenkin's Ear, the battle was for control of the road between the British forts of Frederica and St. Simons, to control St. Simons Island and the forts'...
and the Battle of Gully Hole Creek
Battle of Gully Hole Creek
The Battle of Gully Hole Creek was a skirmish in 1742 on St. Simons Island, Georgia, between Spanish troops from the Spanish colony of Florida and British colonial troops on St. Simons Island. It was won by the British...
, forcing them to withdraw. Britain's ownership of Georgia was formally recognised by Spain in the subsequent Treaty of Madrid
Treaty of Madrid
Treaty of Madrid may refer to:*Treaty of Madrid , in which France renounced claims in Italy, surrendered Burgundy to Spain, and abandoned sovereignty over Flanders and Artois....
.
Background
The colony of Georgia had been an issue of contention between Britain and Spain ever since its foundation in 1733. Spain claimed the territory for its own colony of FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and disputed what was regarded as an illegal occupation by the British settlers. The Convention of Pardo
Convention of Pardo
The Convention of Pardo was a 1739 treaty between Great Britain and Spain designed to find a solution to the issues of smuggling, the Asiento and freedom of the seas that had strained relations between the two states for the past few decades, and was agreed to try to prevent war breaking out...
in 1739 had attempted to settle the dispute, but Spain still refused to abandon its claim. When the War of Jenkins' Ear
War of Jenkins' Ear
The War of Jenkins' Ear was a conflict between Great Britain and Spain that lasted from 1739 to 1748, with major operations largely ended by 1742. Its unusual name, coined by Thomas Carlyle in 1858, relates to Robert Jenkins, captain of a British merchant ship, who exhibited his severed ear in...
broke out that same year, Spain began drawing up plans for an invasion.
The British governor of Georgia, James Oglethorpe, organised a small force and launched a British invasion of Florida in 1740, hoping to forestall a similar Spanish invasion of Georgia. The British besieged St. Augustine
Siege of St. Augustine
The Siege of St. Augustine took place in July 1740 during the War of Jenkins' Ear, in which Britain and her colonies attacked Spanish colonies in the Americas.-Background:...
but were forced to withdraw. The stage was then set for the Spanish commander Manuel de Montiano
Manuel de Montiano
Manuel de Montiano y Luyando was a Spanish General and colonial administrator who served as Royal Governor of La Florida and Royal Governor of Panama...
to launch his long-awaited attack on Georgia. Because of the pressing demands on British resources in other theatres, no further reinforcements could be dispatched to aid defend the colony from attack.
Landing
Montiano sailed with several thousand troops from CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. He landed on St Simons Island in Georgia
Province of Georgia
The Province of Georgia was one of the Southern colonies in British America. It was the last of the thirteen original colonies established by Great Britain in what later became the United States...
which he intended to use as his base for a full-scale takeover of the colony. Montanio began gathering intelligence about the strength of British opposition.
Battle of Gully Hole Creek
A battle on St. Simons Island at Gully Hole Creek took place on July 7, 1742. The British won.Battle of Bloody Marsh
A second battle on St. Simons Island took place on July 7, 1742, this one at Bloody Marsh. Led by Oglethorpe, the British settlers ambushed the Spanish troops and won the battle.Withdrawal
Montiano regrouped his forces and stood poised for a further advance. However fearing British reinforcements Montiano retreated back to Florida.Aftermath
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, but circumstances were not favourable. The focus of the war had shifted from the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and arms, supplies and troops were not readily available. The region descended into an uneasy peace, occasionally punctuated by minor skirmishes. The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle ended the war in 1748 and recognised the status of Georgia as a British colony. Its position was further secured in 1763 when Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
became a British possession as part of the Treaty of Paris
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...
ending the Seven Year's War.