Rio de Janeiro Affair

Not to be confused with Battle of Rio de Janeiro (disambiguation).

Rio de Janeiro Affair
Part of the Brazilian Naval Revolt

Cruiser Detroit in the Guanabara Bay, during the Brazilian Naval Revolt (L'Univers illustré, Levy (Paris), nº 2.029, 10 February 1894).
Date9–21 January 1894
Location
Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Result

American victory[1]

  • End of the rebel blockade
  • Rio de Janeiro reopened to American commerce
Belligerents
 United States Brazilian navy rebels
Commanders and leaders
United States Andrew Benham
United States Willard Brownson		 Saldanha da Gama  Surrendered
Strength
2 gunboats
3 cruisers		 Land:
1 fort
Sea:
2 coastal battleships
4 cruisers
1 monitor
1 gunboat
7 torpedo boats
9 auxiliary cruisers[2]
Casualties and losses
None 1 ironclad heavily damaged

The Rio de Janeiro Affair refers to a series of incidents during the Brazilian Naval Revolt in January 1894. Following three attacks on American merchant ships in the harbour of Rio de Janeiro, a bloodless naval engagement occurred between a United States Navy warship and an ironclad of Rear Admiral Saldanha da Gama's rebel fleet. Ultimately the Americans completed their objective, and Gama offered to surrender his fleet to the Americans, but the offer was never pursued.[3][4]

  1. ^ Munsey, pp. 496–99.
  2. ^ Brassey, p. 192.
  3. ^ The New York Times (PDF), 15 March 1894.
  4. ^ Munsey, pp. 496–99.