Robert Jenkins reportedly displayed his severed ear before the British Parliament

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Robert Jenkins was an 18th-century British mariner whose allegedly severed ear, presented before Parliament, became a powerful symbol that helped inflame public opinion and contributed to the outbreak of the War of Jenkins’ Ear against Spain.

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Robert Jenkins 0

Statements (38)

Predicate Object
instanceOf British mariner
human
allegedlyDisplayed his severed ear before the British Parliament
allegedVictimOf Spanish coast guard violence
associatedWithConflict War of Jenkins’ Ear NERFINISHED
associatedWithEvent presentation of his severed ear to the British Parliament
bodyPartInjury ear severed
conflictStartInfluence War of Jenkins’ Ear (1739) NERFINISHED
contributedTo outbreak of the War of Jenkins’ Ear
countryOfCitizenship Kingdom of Great Britain
displayContext parliamentary hearings on Spanish depredations
earSeveredAround 1731
earSeveredBy Spanish coast guards NERFINISHED
era Georgian era NERFINISHED
hasPart severed ear (alleged historical relic)
historicalRole symbol of Spanish atrocities used in British propaganda
historicityOfEarIncident disputed by some historians
influenced British public opinion against Spain
parliamentary agitation for war with Spain
knownFor dramatic testimony about Spanish treatment of British sailors
legacy eponym of the War of Jenkins’ Ear
mentionedIn British 18th-century political discourse
later historical accounts of Anglo-Spanish relations
nationality British
notableFor having his ear allegedly severed by Spanish coast guards
the incident that became known as the War of Jenkins’ Ear NERFINISHED
occupation mariner
sailor
parliamentaryAppearance House of Commons of Great Britain NERFINISHED
participantIn incident leading to the War of Jenkins’ Ear
placeOfBirth Kingdom of Great Britain NERFINISHED
politicalUseOfInjury to justify war with Spain
shipTypeOperated British merchant vessel
subjectOf debates over myth versus reality in the origins of the War of Jenkins’ Ear
symbolized British grievances against Spain
Spanish cruelty toward British sailors
timePeriod 18th century
usedAsPropaganda his severed ear

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Battle of Jenkins' Ear (incident) notableAftermath Robert Jenkins reportedly displayed his severed ear before the British Parliament