Image: Dominic Serres the Elder - The Capture of Havana, 1762- The Morro Castle and the Boom Defence Before the Attack

Description: A depiction of an episode from the last major operation of the Seven Years War, 1756-63. It was part of England's offensive against Spain when she 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 40s, 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. A landing was made without opposition six miles east of the castle on 7 June. On 1 July the 'Cambridge', 80 guns, 'Marlborough', 70 guns, and 'Dragon', 74 guns, were ordered to bombard the castle but were driven off with heavy losses, including Captain Goostrey of the 'Cambridge',. On 30 July a breach was made with mines in a wall of the castle and it was taken by storm. After its capture the fall of Havana was inevitable and took place on 11 August. In addition to stores and valuables, nine Spanish ships of the line were captured. The painting shows the Spanish preparations before the siege. The Morro Castle is on the left and the entrance to the harbour of Havana is blocked by sunken ships and a boom defence. A gun is being hoisted or lowered above the Shepherd's Battery, with the star-shaped Apostles' Battery (from its twelve embrasures) immediately to the right. This is one of a series of eleven painted by Dominic Serres to illustrate the principal events of the campaign for the Keppel family, of whom three distinguished brothers served at Havana: George Keppel, 3rd Earl of Albemarle (1724-72) was the army commander-in-chief; Commodore the Hon. Augustus Keppel (1725-86), who was naval second-in-command and Major-General the Hon. William Keppel (1727 -82), who directed the storming of the Morro Castle.
Title: The Capture of Havana, 1762: The Morro Castle and the Boom Defence Before the Attacklabel QS:Len,"The Capture of Havana, 1762: The Morro Castle and the Boom Defence Before the Attack"
Credit: National Maritime Museum BHC0408
Author: Dominic Serres
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No