Gibraltar, 1779-1783: The Great Siege (campaign, 172)
by René Chartrand /
2006 / English / PDF
22.1 MB Download
After Spain declared war against Britain on 21 June 1779 during the
American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), a siege by land and sea was
deployed against Gibraltar. For four years the garrison of Governor
Elliot was blockaded and starvation was never far away. Despite
constant Spanish bombardment, the garrison maintained high spirits
thanks to the resolute attitude of Elliot, who embodied all the
virtues of steadfast resistance and defiance against the odds.
Frustrated by failure, the Spanish called in French forces under
the Duc de Crillon. The French built armoured battering ships,
designed to be immune to British fire while they pulverized the
defences, but this too failed to capture ‘the Rock’. The seige was
finally broken in 1782, breaking too the Franco-Spanish spirit and
was a prelude to the final British victory in February 1783. This
book examines this fascinating siege and people involved in it.
After Spain declared war against Britain on 21 June 1779 during the
American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), a siege by land and sea was
deployed against Gibraltar. For four years the garrison of Governor
Elliot was blockaded and starvation was never far away. Despite
constant Spanish bombardment, the garrison maintained high spirits
thanks to the resolute attitude of Elliot, who embodied all the
virtues of steadfast resistance and defiance against the odds.
Frustrated by failure, the Spanish called in French forces under
the Duc de Crillon. The French built armoured battering ships,
designed to be immune to British fire while they pulverized the
defences, but this too failed to capture ‘the Rock’. The seige was
finally broken in 1782, breaking too the Franco-Spanish spirit and
was a prelude to the final British victory in February 1783. This
book examines this fascinating siege and people involved in it.