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Attacks on Fuerteventura in 1740 | |||||||
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Part of War of Jenkins' Ear | |||||||
The bay at Gran Tarajal was used by both privateer expeditions to launch their attack on the island | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
British Empire | Spanish Empire | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Unknown | José Sánchez Umpiérrez | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
British privateers | Local militia | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
100–350 | Unknown | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Most killed | Unknown |
The 1740 attacks on the island of Fuerteventura, also known as the Battles of El Cuchillete and Tamasite (Spanish: Batallas de El Cuchillete y Tamasite), by English privateers took place within a month of one another, and were both put down with little trouble by the island's militia. They coincided with the Anglo-Spanish war of 1739. Privateering by the British was common during this conflict and the attacks on Fuerteventura in 1740 can be seen as an extension of this period of discord between Britain and Spain.