SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR, 1780.]

A view of Gibraltar, with Sir George Brydges Rodney coming to its relief, & bringing with him five men of war, part of Don Juan de Langara’s fleet, captured off St Vincent in his way to that garrison, on the 16th of January 1780. To his Royal Highness Prince William Henry, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, this plate, representing a scene the result of an action so advantageous and honorable to his country, and in which signal service his Royal Highness sustained so a glorious a share, is, by permission, most humbly and respectfully dedicated, by Robert Wilkinson and Robert Pollard.

      London, R. Wilkinson & R. Pollard, 1 June 1782. - 570 x 770 mm, engraving; a fine example with wide margins. A fine view of Gibraltar, drawn by the marine painter Dominic Serres and engraved by Robert Pollard. It depicts the British garrison, with Rodney’s squadron at anchor and several of Admiral Langara’s Spanish fleet, which had been captured during the celebrated ‘Moonlight battle’.In 1779, Spain had entered the American War of Independence against Britain with the direct aim of capturing Gibraltar and had soon sent an army to besiege the British garrison there. The following year it was decided that a naval squadron under Rodney should be sent to relieve Gibraltar. ‘Though some ministers (Sandwich in particular) were sceptical, the British public was deeply persuaded of the value of Gibraltar (and Minorca which depended on it), and the ministry felt obliged to give it a high priority’ (Rodger, Command of the ocean p. 343). The expedition was an outstanding success. ‘On 7 January 1780, off Finisterre, Rodney largely captured a convoy of sixteen Spanish ships and a few days later, off Cape St Vincent, he met and, in the famous Moonlight battle, comprehensively defeated Admiral Langara, the Spanish commander. Rodney’s force was much superior to Langara’s but the nature of the battle, a night attack in heavy seas with an immediate order by Rodney to chase, marked the aggressive approach that Rodney habitually brought to his actions. Six of the nine Spanish ships were captured and one was blown up’ (Oxford DNB). Gibraltar was relieved and Britain’s sea command in the Mediterranean was secured.