The Lisbon station[1] also known as Lisbon Station and Coast of Spain[2] was a formation of the British Navy operating off the coast of Portugal from 1779 to 1782 before being disbanded and then again from 1783 until 1841.
History
The Lisbon station can be traced to the mobile
squadron of the Royal Navy operating mainly off the coast of Portugal but also Spain during the late 18th century and 19th century. The squadron was involved in a number of engagements during the
Anglo-Spanish War including the
action of 11 November 1779. It was particularity known for its involvement in the
Battle of Porto Praya in April 1781 as part of the
Anglo-French War of 1778–1783.[3] Later that same year, the squadron was ordered to capture the
Dutch Cape Colony on the
Cape of Good Hope. This led to the
Battle of Saldanha Bay in which a number of Dutch ships were seized. The Dutch colony however was not taken. Because of this, the squadron was disbanded in 1782 when Commodore Johnstone sought election as an MP. The Station was re-established in 1795 under the command of
Vice-Admiral Sir George Vandeput to undertake convoy duties between England the Mediterranean and Lisbon. Vandeput carried out this duty for about a year. He died in 1800.
In 1808
Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Cotton was charged with preparation of Lisbon harbor for the planned invasion of the
Iberian Peninsula later in the year. The fleet was also involved with the evacuation of
Sir John Moore's army stuck in
Galicia following the
Battle of Corunna.[4] In 1810, Admiral Cotton was relieved of command by
Admiral Sir George Cranfield Berkeley when it was next involved in improving coastal defences until 1812, when Admiral Berkeley retired his command. He was then replaced by
Vice-Admiral Sir George Martin who commanded the station until 1814.[5] He was followed by Rear-Admiral Sir George H. Parker from 1815 until 1834. In early 1837, the station was under the temporary command of
Rear-Admiral John Ommanney, until he was relieved as commander in chief by
Vice-Admiral Sir William Hall Gage. Gage was ordered, by the
Admiralty, to undertake protection duties of
Queen Maria II during the period known as the
Liberal Wars, fought between progressive constitutionalists and authoritarian absolutists in Portugal over royal succession. The station ceased to be a command in 1841.
^Heathcote, T.A. (2002). The British Admirals of the Fleet : 1734-1995 : a biographical dictionary (1. publ. in Great Britain. ed.). Barnsley: Cooper. p. 94.
ISBN0850528356.
Rodger, N.A.M. (2004), The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain, 1649-1815. New York and London: W.W. Norton and Company. 2005.
ISBN9780393060508.
The Lisbon station[1] also known as Lisbon Station and Coast of Spain[2] was a formation of the British Navy operating off the coast of Portugal from 1779 to 1782 before being disbanded and then again from 1783 until 1841.
History
The Lisbon station can be traced to the mobile
squadron of the Royal Navy operating mainly off the coast of Portugal but also Spain during the late 18th century and 19th century. The squadron was involved in a number of engagements during the
Anglo-Spanish War including the
action of 11 November 1779. It was particularity known for its involvement in the
Battle of Porto Praya in April 1781 as part of the
Anglo-French War of 1778–1783.[3] Later that same year, the squadron was ordered to capture the
Dutch Cape Colony on the
Cape of Good Hope. This led to the
Battle of Saldanha Bay in which a number of Dutch ships were seized. The Dutch colony however was not taken. Because of this, the squadron was disbanded in 1782 when Commodore Johnstone sought election as an MP. The Station was re-established in 1795 under the command of
Vice-Admiral Sir George Vandeput to undertake convoy duties between England the Mediterranean and Lisbon. Vandeput carried out this duty for about a year. He died in 1800.
In 1808
Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Cotton was charged with preparation of Lisbon harbor for the planned invasion of the
Iberian Peninsula later in the year. The fleet was also involved with the evacuation of
Sir John Moore's army stuck in
Galicia following the
Battle of Corunna.[4] In 1810, Admiral Cotton was relieved of command by
Admiral Sir George Cranfield Berkeley when it was next involved in improving coastal defences until 1812, when Admiral Berkeley retired his command. He was then replaced by
Vice-Admiral Sir George Martin who commanded the station until 1814.[5] He was followed by Rear-Admiral Sir George H. Parker from 1815 until 1834. In early 1837, the station was under the temporary command of
Rear-Admiral John Ommanney, until he was relieved as commander in chief by
Vice-Admiral Sir William Hall Gage. Gage was ordered, by the
Admiralty, to undertake protection duties of
Queen Maria II during the period known as the
Liberal Wars, fought between progressive constitutionalists and authoritarian absolutists in Portugal over royal succession. The station ceased to be a command in 1841.
^Heathcote, T.A. (2002). The British Admirals of the Fleet : 1734-1995 : a biographical dictionary (1. publ. in Great Britain. ed.). Barnsley: Cooper. p. 94.
ISBN0850528356.
Rodger, N.A.M. (2004), The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain, 1649-1815. New York and London: W.W. Norton and Company. 2005.
ISBN9780393060508.