The War of Jenkins' Ear was a conflict between Britain and Spain, named after Robert Jenkins, an English captain who claimed that Spanish coast guards had cut off his ear in 1731. His story, shown to Parliament, fed public anger over Spanish restrictions on British trade in the Caribbean. The war began with Admiral Edward Vernon's capture of Portobelo, in Panama, but a large British expedition against Cartagena de Indias failed badly in 1741. Other operations included an attack on St Augustine in Florida by James Oglethorpe and George Anson's voyage around the world. The war was soon absorbed into the larger War of the Austrian Succession and ended with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.
Before and after
- from 10 May 1738 to 1 January 1740Nadir Shah's invasion of India
- 24 May 1738Birth of George III of Great Britain
- 15 November 1738Birth of William Herschel
- 2 June 1739Construction of Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
- from 22 October 1739 to 18 October 1748War of Jenkins' Ear
- 1740Rise of Hasidic Judaism
- from 1740 to 1763Silesian Wars
- 2 June 1740Birth of Marquis de Sade
- 20 October 1740Birth of Isabelle de Charrière
More in Wars, politics & history
- 25 September 1555Peace of Augsburg
- 1 July 1569Union of Lublin
- from 1683 to 1699Great Turkish War
- 26 January 1699Treaty of Karlowitz
- 22 February 1732Birth of George Washington
- from 10 October 1733 to 3 October 1735War of the Polish Succession
The era
This moment belongs to the Early modern world (1500 CE to 1760 CE), voyages, printing and new ideas. You can also browse everything in the 18th century.