Gibraltar 1779 - 1783

by CHARTRAND, RENECOURCELLE, PATRICE

• ISBN13: 9781841769776
• ISBN10: 1841769770
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2006-07-25
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing

Summary

After Spain declared war on Britain on 21 June 1779, Gibraltar was besieged by land and sea for four years. The centrepiece of the siege was the dramatic assault by armoured battering ships. Though seemingly invincible these floating phenomena were countered by British engineering ingenuity and sheer resolve. In this detailed account of the siege, Rene Chartrand examines the Franco-Spanish and British forces as well as the personalities and plans that would contribute to a vital British victory at a time when British fortunes elsewhere in the world were on the wane. Book jacket.

Author Biography

René Chartrand was born in Montréal and educated in Canada, the United States and the Bahamas. A senior curator with Canada's National Historic Sites for nearly three decades, he is now a freelance writer and historical consultant. He has written numerous articles and books including almost 30 Osprey titles. He lives in Gatineau, Québec, with his wife and two sons.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 6
Origins of the Campaign	p. 8
Chronology	p. 16
Opposing Commanders	p. 18
British commanders
Franco-Spanish commanders
Opposing Armies	p. 22
The British garrison
The Spanish forces
The French forces
Opposing Plans	p. 30
The Great Siege	p. 32
The Sortie	p. 43
The Siege of Minorca	p. 54
Gibraltar Holds on	p. 57
The Grand Attack	p. 65
Admiral Howe's Relief	p. 84
Aftermath	p. 88
The Battlefield Today	p. 92
Select Bibliography	p. 94
Index	p. 95
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