Image: Dominic Serres the Elder - The Capture of Havana, 1762, Storming of Morro Castle, 30 July

Description: A depiction of an episode from the last major operation of the Seven Years War, 1756–63. It was part of the British offensive against Spain when the latter entered the war in support of France late in 1761. The British Government’s response was immediately to plan large offensive amphibious operations against Spanish overseas possessions, particularly Havana, the capital of the western dominions and Manila, the capital of the eastern. Havana needed large forces for its capture and early in 1762 ships and troops were dispatched under Admiral Sir George Pocock and General the Earl of Albemarle. The force which descended on Cuba consisted of 22 ships of the line, four 50-gun ships, three 40-gunners, a dozen frigates and a dozen sloops and bomb vessels. In addition there were troopships, storeships, and hospital ships. Pocock took this great fleet of about 180 sail through the dangerous Old Bahama Strait, from Jamaica, to take Havana by surprise. Havana, on Cuba's north coast, was guarded by the elevated Morro Castle which commanded both the entrance to its fine harbour, immediately to the west, and the town on the west side of the bay. Having landed troops and supplies in early June, 1762, a breach was finally made with mines in the north-east walls of Morro Castle. Here Serres shows a slightly later stage in the attack on the Morro Castle than in the companion picture in the series (see BHC0412). The red-coated troops, from the main siege camp to the left (east) of the castle are here shown are clearly seen marching in line across the narrow parapet of the transverse wall dividing the catsle's deep dry-ditch defence from the sea and storming up crumbling rampart into the castle. Over them, explosive mortar shells arc into the castle precinct, all set against a dramatically stormy, lowering sky. The defence of the Morro Castle was ably conducted by Don Luis de Velasco, a veteran Spanish naval officer, who was ordered to replace an ineffective army predecessor after news of the British landing arrived. He was seriously wounded in the final assault and died two days later. However, in recognition of his heroic defence, the head of his family in Spain was ennobled and it was decreed that 'Velasco' be the name of a ship in the Spanish navy.
Title: The Capture of Havana, 1762: Storming of Morro Castle, 30 July label QS:Len,"The Capture of Havana, 1762: Storming of Morro Castle, 30 July"
Credit: Royal Museums Greewich
Author: Dominic Serres
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No