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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

FRANCIS ÆGIDIUS ASSIOTTI (ACTIVE 1759-82)

Siege of St Philips, 1781-2

To the Right Honorable / Henry Seymour Conway / One of his Majestys most Honorable Privy Council & / Commander in Chief of all his Forces. &c &c &c / This Plan of the Seige of S.t Philips Castle on the / ISLAND OF...

published 1782

Engraving and etching; printed on paper; hand-coloured | Scale: 1:7,782 approx. | RCIN 734066

A map of the siege of British-held St Philip's Castle, 19 August 1781-5 February 1782, taken by the Spanish and French forces. American War of Independence (1775-83). Oriented with south-west to top.

The recapture of St Philips and Minorca was part of Spanish strategy to reclaim strongholds in the Mediterranean, including Gibraltar. Minorca was eventually ceded to Spain in the Treaty of Paris 1783. The Spaniards, under the command of the Duc de Crillon, defeated the British, commanded by General James Murray, Governor of Minorca and took St Philips after a five-month siege. This plan shows the trajectories of canon fire by straight lines, and those of mortar batteries by curved pecked lines.

Additional text: [right, in rectangular panel down right side of map, a key, a-i, k-u, w-x, to the batteries, redoubts, with the numbers of guns and mortars in each, where they were visible, etc:] REFERENCE / to the Lines and Batteries erected / by the Besiegers [followed by a note on the invisible embrasure and an explanation of the representation of a battery in the top margin of the map:] The Battery erected between Turrasia & Bini Saida is in a Strait line about a Mile distant & shewn in the Margin as it would have been needless to carry the Plan so far for this Batt.y only. [Followed by a reference to the ships ordered to be sunk by General Murray, a description of the Spanish landing on 19 August, and the surrender, etc., and a note on the colouring:] The works coloured Yellow are the lines of Circumvallation and Batteries erected by order of His Grace the Duke of Crillon; against S.t Philips Castle.

Condition: one fold line. Verso: induced discolouration; bottom, right of centre: shadow from the removal of a cipher label.
  • Francis Ægidius Assiotti (active 1759-82) (publisher) [bottom left, outside border:] London Published according to Act of Parliament Sep the 27th 1782 by Francis Ægidius Assiotti No 136 Long Acre

    John Adams (active 1781-2) (draughtsman) [bottom right, outside border:] Taken on the Spot by M.r John Adams Asst Master Mason who was in the Castle during the Seige.

  • Watermark: J WHATMAN

    Condition: one fold line. Verso: induced discolouration; bottom, right of centre: shadow from the removal of a cipher label

  • Scale: 1:7,782 approx. Scale bar: SCALE of 4800 FEET [188 mm =].

    37.5 x 53.1 cm (neatline)

    40.8 x 59.3 cm (image)

    cropped (platemark)

    44.7 x 65.2 cm (sheet)

  • Printed title:

    To the Right Honorable / Henry Seymour Conway / One of his Majestys most Honorable Privy Council & / Commander in Chief of all his Forces. &c &c &c / This Plan of the Seige of S.t Philips Castle on the / ISLAND OF MINORCA / Is with Permission, most humbly Inscribed / By his Excellency’s / Most Devoted, & most Obedient humble Ser.t / Francis Ægidius Assiotti. [top right,in a cartouche representing a draped flag, below the arms of Henry Seymour Conway, comprising the Conway arms quartered with those of the Seymour Dukes of Somerset, flanked, on the left, by the colours of the Board of Ordnance and a pre-1801 Union British flag, and, on the right, by the red ensign of the British navy]

    Additional text:

    [right, in rectangular panel down right side of map, a key, a-i, k-u, w-x, to the batteries, redoubts, with the numbers of guns and mortars in each, where they were visible, etc:] REFERENCE / to the Lines and Batteries erected / by the Besiegers [followed by a note on the invisible embrasure and an explanation of the representation of a battery in the top margin of the map:] The Battery erected between Turrasia & Bini Saida is in a Strait line about a Mile distant & shewn in the Margin as it would have been needless to carry the Plan so far for this Batt.y only. [Followed by a reference to the ships ordered to be sunk by General Murray, a description of the Spanish landing on 19 August, and the surrender, etc., and a note on the colouring:] The works coloured Yellow are the lines of Circumvallation and Batteries erected by order of His Grace the Duke of Crillon; against S.t Philips Castle.

    Annotations:

    George III heading: S.t Philips 19 Aug. 1781 - 5 Feb. 1782.

    Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [right of centre, black pencil, erased:] 38-[n or a].

    George III catalouge entry:

    Philips, SA Plan of S.t Philip’s Castle on the Island of Minorca besieged by the Spanish and French Forces the 19.th of August 1781 and taken the 5.th of Feb.y 1782: by John Adams: published by Francis Aegidius Assiotti, 1782.

  • Subject(s)

    Sant-Felip, Port Mahon, Minorca, Balearic Islands (39°52'01"N 04°18'13"E)

Page revisions

  • 14 March 2024