Battle of Porto Bello (1739)

E104202

The Battle of Porto Bello (1739) was a notable early British naval victory against Spain during the War of Jenkins’ Ear, in which Admiral Edward Vernon captured the Spanish colonial port of Portobelo in present-day Panama.

All labels observed (4)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf battle
naval battle
alsoKnownAs Battle of Porto Bello (1739)
surface form: Battle of Portobelo (1739)
belligerent Great Britain
Kingdom of Great Britain
Spain
Spanish Empire
captured Portobelo
casualtiesAndLosses Spanish ships captured or destroyed
heavy Spanish casualties
light British casualties
combatantCommanderFor Don Francisco Javier de la Vega
surface form: Don Francisco Javier de la Vega – Spain

Edward Vernon – Great Britain
commander Don Francisco Javier de la Vega
Edward Vernon
commemoratedBy British medals and prints
songs and popular celebrations in Britain
conflictIn War of Jenkins' Ear
surface form: War of Jenkins’ Ear
countryAtTimeOfBattle Viceroyalty of New Granada
date 1739-11-20
endDate 1739-11-22
era 18th century
followedBy British attacks on Cartagena de Indias
inspired Portobello in Edinburgh
celebrations and commemorations in Britain
place names such as Portobello Road in London
involved English navy
surface form: Royal Navy

Spanish colonial forces
location Panama
Portobelo
Spanish West Indies
surface form: Spanish Main
modernLocation Panama
notableFor boosting British public morale
early British success in the War of Jenkins’ Ear
enhancing the reputation of Admiral Edward Vernon
objective capture of Portobelo
disruption of Spanish colonial trade
partOf Anglo-Spanish War (1739–1748)
precededBy rising tensions between Britain and Spain over trade and maritime rights
relatedTo War of the Austrian Succession
result British victory
startDate 1739-11-20
strategicImportance control of a key Spanish Caribbean port
impact on Spanish treasure and trade routes
strength 6 British ships of the line
Spanish coastal fortifications
Spanish garrison
theatre Caribbean Sea
West Indies

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (5)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

War of Jenkins' Ear hasPart Battle of Porto Bello (1739)
Admiral Edward Vernon militaryConflict Battle of Porto Bello (1739)
subject surface form: Edward Vernon
this entity surface form: Battle of Porto Bello
Battle of Porto Bello (1739) alsoKnownAs Battle of Porto Bello (1739)
this entity surface form: Battle of Portobelo (1739)
British fleet at Porto Bello battle Battle of Porto Bello (1739)
this entity surface form: Battle of Porto Bello
British fleet at Porto Bello campaign Battle of Porto Bello (1739)
this entity surface form: British Caribbean campaign of 1739–1740