War of Jenkin's Ear, 1739-c.1743

One of a series of wars caused by colonial rivalries in the new world. The Spanish excluded English traders from their American colonies, leading to smuggling and resentment. In 1738, Captain Robert Jenkins appeared before Parliament with his ear, which he claimed had been cut off by the Spanish when they boarded his ship seven years earlier. War was declared in 1739, although the conflict was soon swallowed by the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) and by 1743 the hostilies in America became part of King George's War (1744-1748). There were English attacks on Spanish colonies in the Caribbean in 1739 and 1740, and attacks of St. Augustune (Florida), then in Spanish hands, in 1740 and 1743, while the Spanish launched an attack on Georgia in 1743.
How to cite this article: Rickard, J. (22 October 2000), War of Jenkin's Ear, 1739-c.1743, http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/war_jenkins.html

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