On this day 4 April

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On the 4th of April 1808, a battle broke out between forces of the British and Spanish navies near Cadiz. The Royal Navy had maintained blockade duty there since the Battle of Trafalgar (21 October 1805). The British squadron, under the command of Captain Murray Maxwell, spotted a convoy of merchants sailing close to shore. The convoy was protected by approximately 20-gun boats and land-based artillery. At 4 p.m. the battle ensued as the Spanish and British exchanged fire. The HMS Alceste (38-gun frigate), under the command of Captain Maxwell, and the HMS Mercury (28-gun frigate), under the command of Captain James Alexander Gordon, focused their attack on the gunboats. The HMS Grasshopper (18-gun brig-sloop), under the command of Captain Thomas Searle, positioned herself upon a shoal, and using grape shot, rendered the land-based artillery inoperative by driving their gun crews away. Additionally, the Grasshopper prevented Spanish gun-boat reinforcements from supporting the action against the Alceste and Mercury. The first Lieutenant of the Alceste, Lieutenant Stewart, led an attack force of marines from the two British frigates against the merchants. Having boarded the Spanish ships, they captured seven. When the battle ended, the British had the seven prizes, sunk two gun boats, and forced another seven gun boats to run aground.

Murray Maxwell:

3020 3021

James Alexander Gordon:

3022

For more information on today’s event:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_of_4_April_1808