Henry Morgan's raid on Porto Bello

Henry Morgan's raid on Porto Bello
Part of the Anglo-Spanish War (1654–1671)
Henry Morgan's attack on the Castillo de San Jeronimo, Porto Bello, 1668
Date 10 July - 2 August, 1668 Location Porto Bello, Real Audiencia of Panama 09°33′16″N 79°39′18″W / 9.55444°N 79.65500°W / 9.55444; -79.65500 Result English victory
Belligerents
Spain	England
Commanders and leaders
Agustín de Bracamonte	Henry Morgan
Strength
1,100 soldiers and militia	8 ships 500 men
Casualties and losses
~300 killed, wounded or captured unknown to disease	18 killed 32 wounded unknown to disease

Henry Morgan's raid on Porto Bello was a military event which took place in the latter half of the Anglo-Spanish war beginning on 10 July 1668. Notable Welsh Buccaneer Henry Morgan led a largely English Privateer force against the heavily fortified town of Porto Bello (now Portobelo in modern Panama). After landing Morgan and his men attempted to take the castles protecting the town. One such involved using captured citizens as human shields to seize one of the castles. After capturing them all by force the privateers subsequently entered the city and then plundered it before Morgan demanded a large ransom from the Governor of Panama Don Agustín de Bracamonte. While the negotiations for this was going on – Bracamonte led a sizeable force from Panama City intent on recapturing the city and putting the privateers to the sword.

Morgan however managed to ambush and repel Bracamonte's Spanish counter attack forcing him to deliver the ransom. Having achieved this, Morgan and the Privateers left Porto Bello intact as promised and went back to Jamaica unhindered. The attack was highly successful and garnered some 100,000 pieces of eight as well as other valuable booty.