An Exact Draught of the Castle of San Lorenzo the Village & River of Chagre

Vernon’s attack on San Lorenzo during the War of Jenkins’ Ear.

In the early stages of what would eventually become the War of the Austrian Succession, Admiral Edward Vernon commanded a small fleet of ships that wreaked havoc on Spain’s mercantile empire in the New World. One of his numerous victories included the destruction of San Lorenzo castle and the adjacent town of Chagre, in modern day Panama.

Between March 22-24, 1740, Vernon’s squadron bombarded the Spanish defenders into submission. The course of events are shown on this map, engraved by Emanuel Bowen and published in the July, 1740 edition of London’s Gentleman’s Magazine – just a few weeks after it took place. Accompanying text provides historical information and a brief description of the battle.

The map was issued during a period of conflict between British and Spanish interests in the Caribbean known as the War of Jenkins’ Ear. Named after an English captain who had his eat cut off by an impetuous Spaniard, the war was driven primarily by economic motivations.

In addition to capturing a larger share of the lucrative West Indies market, Britain also wanted to ensure Spain honored the Asiento de Negros contract. This monopoly, issued to various European powers across the years, allowed for the legal transportation of slaves to colonies in the Spanish Americas. Britain had been granted the monopoly at the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, but would lose it after the ongoing War of Jenkins’ Ear evolved into the broader War of the Austrian Succession.