War of the Austrian Succession
1739–1748
Britain went to war with Spain in 1739 over Spanish searches of British ships in the Caribbean; it was named the War of Jenkins' Ear after a merchant captain who showed Parliament the ear a Spanish coastguard had cut off. Admiral Vernon took Porto Bello with six ships, but his great attack on Cartagena de Indias in 1741 ended in disaster, defeated by Blas de Lezo's defences and by yellow fever. The war merged into the wider European war over the Austrian throne, with France joining Spain. In 1744 a muddled battle off Toulon between the British Mediterranean fleet and the Franco-Spanish fleet led to a string of courts martial and a reform of the navy's discipline. In 1747 Anson and Hawke smashed two French convoy escorts off Cape Finisterre, cutting France off from her colonies, and the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle ended the war in 1748.
How the fleets moved
Click a route to see which ships made it, or a battle for its summary. Routes are approximate.
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British movement
Battle (size: ships engaged)
Routes are approximate.
Major battles
The 4 biggest of the 5 battles covered here, by ships engaged.
13 March – 20 May 1741
Battle of Cartagena de IndiasCartagena de Indias, New Granada
Spanish victory; the British withdrew
29
vs
6 (6 lost)
22 February 1744
Battle of ToulonOff Cape Sicié, near Toulon
Indecisive; the British blockade lifted
39 (1 lost)
vs
28 (1 lost)
14 May 1747
First Battle of Cape FinisterreOff Cape Finisterre, Spain
British victory; the whole French escort captured
16
vs
4 (18 lost)
25 October 1747
Second Battle of Cape FinisterreAbout 300 miles west of Brittany
British victory; six French ships of the line captured
18
vs
10 (13 lost)
Fleets
Each navy's ships in the war, from its biggest down.