Action of 8 April 1740

Action of 8 April 1740
Part of the War of Jenkins' Ear

Battle between the Spanish 70-gun Princesa (right foreground) and HMS Lenox, Orford and Kent, 8 April 1740, Museo Naval de Madrid
Date8 April 1740
Location
300 miles south-west of The Lizard off Cape Finisterre
Result British victory
Belligerents
 Great Britain Spain Spain
Commanders and leaders
Captain Colvill Mayne
Captain Thomas Durell
Captain Lord Augustus Fitzroy		 Don Pablo Augustín de Gera.
Strength
3 third-rates 1 third-rate
Casualties and losses
17 killed, 40 wounded.[1] 1 ship captured
33 killed, 100 wounded
517 captured.[1][2]

The action of 8 April 1740 was a battle between the Spanish third rate Princesa (nominally rated at 70 guns, but carrying 64) under the command of Don Parlo Augustino de Gera, and a squadron consisting of three British 70-gun third rates; HMS Kent, HMS Lenox and HMS Orford, under the command of Captain Colvill Mayne of Lenox. The Spanish ship was chased down and captured by the three British ships, after which she was acquired for service by the Royal Navy.

  1. ^ a b Beatson. Naval and Military Memoirs of Great Britain. p. 75.
  2. ^ The Navy In the War of 1739-48. pp. 77-8.