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American War of Independence (1775-83)

George III’s maps and views showing the development of the war at home and abroad, from North America to India

ROBERT SAYER (1725?-29 JANUARY 1794) AND JOHN BENNETT (ACTIVE 1774-83)

Battle of Cape St Vincent, 1780

Admiral S.R GEO: BRYDGES RODNEY, with a Fleet under his command, defeating A Squadron of SPANISH Ships of War, commanded by DON JUAN DE LANGARA, in the Night, 16. Jan.y 1780, near Cape S,t Vincent

published 1782

Mezzotint with etching and engraving; printed and laid down on paper, the paper brought round the edges of the recto | 47.2 x 59.9 cm (image) | RCIN 734054

A view of the Battle of Cape St Vincent (also known as the Moonlight Battle) fought on 16 January 1780 between British ships, commanded by Admiral George Bridges Rodney (bap.1718-92), and a Spanish fleet, commanded by Don Juan de Lángara (1736-1806), resulting in a British victory. American War of Independence (1775-83).

The Battle of Cape St Vincent was the first major naval victory for the British over their European enemies during the war.

Additional text: [bottom centre, between title and imprint:] This PLATE is designed to represent the British Fleet in pursuit of the Flying Enemy with their Van beginning the Attack, which commenced between Four and Five o clock in the Evening, and continued till Two o Clock the next Morning and tho the Weather was tempestuous with a heavy Sea, the following Ships of the Enemy were taken & destroy'd. [with a list of the Spanish ships and the number of their guns, and the fate they suffered.]

For further reading, see:
K. Breen, 'Rodney, George Bridges, first Baron Rodney (bap. 1718, d. 1792)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008.

Condition: one fold line.
  • Robert Sayer (1725?-29 January 1794) and John Bennett (active 1774-83) (publisher) [bottom centre, below text:] London, Printed for R. Sayer and J. Bennett, Map, Chart and Printsellers. N.o 53, Fleet Street, as the Act directs, 10 June 1782.

    Robert Dodd (1748-1815) (artist) [bottom left, below edge of view:] R. Dodd pinx.t

    Robert Laurie (c. 1755-1836) (engraver) [bottom right, below edge of view:] R. Lawrie fecit

  • Watermark: Dovecote; countermark: indistinct, two names: [?] FIN / [?]

    Condition: one fold line

  • 42.3 x 59.9 cm (neatline)

    47.2 x 59.9 cm (image)

    47.9 x 61.2 cm (platemark)

    48.2 x 61.6 cm (sheet)

  • Printed title:

    Admiral S.R GEO: BRYDGES RODNEY, with a Fleet under his command, defeating A Squadron of SPANISH Ships of War, commanded by DON JUAN DE LANGARA, in the Night, 16. Jan.y 1780, near Cape S,t Vincent. [bottom centre]

    Additional text:

    [bottom centre, between title and imprint:] This PLATE is designed to represent the British Fleet in pursuit of the Flying Enemy with their Van beginning the Attack, which commenced between Four and Five o clock in the Evening, and continued till Two o Clock the next Morning and tho the Weather was tempestuous with a heavy Sea, the following Ships of the Enemy were taken & destroy'd. [with a list of the Spanish ships and the number of their guns, and the fate they suffered.]

    Annotations:

    George III heading [black pencil:] Military Naval Engagement 16 Jan 1780 Port folio No 5.

    Other annotations: (Recto) [top left, black pencil:] XIV. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil:] 81.a; [bottom left, black pencil in a modern hand:] According to Cust [i.e. Parker], 81a was published June 19 1786. This therefore looks like the subsequent annotation opp.p.82, and not 81a CMB May 1987; [bottom left, black pencil, obscured by paper backing: the old heading]; [bottom right, black pencil:] -3; [right of centre, black pencil, obscured by paper backing:] 2.

    K. Mil. dummy sheet:

    Title [ink:] Admiral Sir G. B. Rodney, with a Fleet under his command, defeating a Squadron of Spanish / Ships of War, commanded by Don Juan de Langara, in the night of the 16.th of Jan.y 1780; / near Cape S.t Vincent: by R. Dodd, engraved by Lawrie 1782 / Port-folio N.o [black pencil:] 5 - 2 Table / [in a modern hand, crossed out in black pencil:] U.L. Naval / [George III heading, red ink:] Naval Engagement 16 Jan. 1780; [black pencil, erased, partly legible:] oversize folder Box XIV. 
    Watermark: fleur-de-lys in crowned shield, the scrolled letter W below. 
    Size: 48.1 x 33.2 cm (sheet).

    George III catalogue entry:

    Naval Engagement Admiral Sir G. B. Rodney with a Fleet under his command defeating a Squadron of Spanish Ships of War commanded by Don Juan de Langara in the night of the 16.th of January 1780, near Cape S.t Vincent: by R. Dodd, engraved by Lawrie, 1782.

  • Subject(s)

    Cabo de São Vicente, Portugal (37°01'21"N 08°59'25"W)

  • Bibliographic reference(s)

    H. Parker, Naval battles from the collection of prints formed and owned by Commander Sir Charles Leopold Cust. With an introduction by C.N. Robinson, 2 vols., London 1911, no.81. Parker 81.a describes a later state of this view, published in 1786 by Sayer alone, after his partnership with Bennett was disolved in 1785 on the latter's becoming insane. (Worms & Baynton-Williams, 2011, p.69.)

    L. Worms and A. Baynton-Williams, British map engravers a dictionary of engravers, lithographers and their principal employers to 1850, London 2011

Page revisions

  • 14 March 2024