Capture of the Bahamas (1782)

Capture of the Bahamas
Part of the American Revolutionary War

Map of the Bahamas
DateMay 1782
Location25°03′35.84″N 77°20′42.06″W / 25.0599556°N 77.3450167°W / 25.0599556; -77.3450167
Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
 Great Britain  Spain
Commanders and leaders
Kingdom of Great Britain John Maxwell Spain Juan Manuel Cagigal y Monserrat
Spain Francisco de Miranda
Strength
23 ships
1,400+[1]
59 ships
1,500 sailors
1,588 regulars
50 light infantry
202 militia[2]
Casualties and losses
1,412 captured
77 merchant ships captured
1 frigate captured
4 brigantines captured
5 schooners captured
2 sloops captured
11 privateer ships captured[3][4]
None[5]

The Capture of the Bahamas took place in May 1782 during the American Revolutionary War when a Spanish force under the command of Juan Manuel Cagigal arrived on the island of New Providence near Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas. The British commander at Nassau, John Maxwell decided to surrender the island without a fight when confronted by the superior force.

  1. ^ Marley p. 346
  2. ^ Marley p. 346
  3. ^ Marley p. 346
  4. ^ E. Beerman pp. 89–102
  5. ^ Marley p. 346