Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

Incensed by the testimony of Captain Robert Jenkins — who displayed one of his ears that Spain's Latin-American Coast Guard had once cut off — the House of Commons demanded revenge, and G eorge II declared war on 23 October 1739. The thirteen colonies provided 3,500 troops for Admiral Edward Vernon's (1684–1757) futile siege of Cartagena (Colombia) (March—April 1741), of whom 50–80 percent died of disease. In January—May 1740, Ga. governor James O glethorpe invaded Fla. and captured Forts San Francisco de Pupo, Picolata, San Diego, and Moosa; he besieged S t A ugustine unsuccessfully in June—July. Oglethorpe repulsed a Spanish invasion of Ga. in 1742 at the battle of B loody S wamp , and again attacked St Augustine in March 1743. Fighting on the Ga. frontier lapsed into small-scale raids after K ing G eorge's W ar commenced. The treaty of A ix -L a -C hapelle restored peace. ... log in or subscribe to read full text