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BATTLE // February 14, 1797

Battle of Cape St. Vincent

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Overview

The Battle of Cape St. Vincent was a fleet action fought on 14 February 1797 between the British and Spanish navies off Cape St. Vincent as part of the War of the First Coalition. In one of the opening battles of the recently declared war between Britain and Spain, a British fleet under Admiral of the Blue Sir John Jervis defeated a larger Spanish fleet under Lieutenant-general José de Córdoba y Ramos. The British victory helped to secure Britain's access to the Mediterranean; Jervis and his officers were rewarded for their actions, while Córdoba was dismissed from the Spanish navy and forbidden from appearing at court.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Forces & casualties

Casualties

  • Spain3,000
    medium

Commanders (11)

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4 sibling battles · 4 factions

Last verified June 2026
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