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Writer's pictureGeorge Castrioti

August 11th, 1718- The Battle of Cape Passaro

Conflict: War of the Quadruple Alliance

Combatants: British vs. Spanish

Location: Mediterranean Sea

Outcome: British victory


On this day in 1718, 21 British ships under the command of Admiral George Byng all but destroyed a smaller Spanish fleet, commanded by Admiral Antonio de Gaztañeta, off the coast of Syracuse. The British sank or captured 20 of the Spanish vessels with only 2 or 3 escaping destruction.


Points of Interest:

  • After the death of French King Louis XIV, England, France and the Netherlands allied to oppose the machinations of Spain in France and Italy.

  • In 1718, Austria joined the allies to form the Quadruple Alliance.


George Byng (1663-1733), 1st Viscount Torrington by Godfrey Kneller





















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Sources:


Dupuy, Trevor N., Johnson, Curt, & Bongard, David L. (1992). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military Biography. New York: Castle Books (HarperCollins).


Dupuy, R. Ernest & Dupuy, Trevor N. (1993). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military History. New York: HarperCollins.


Eggenberger, David (1985). An Encyclopedia of Battles: Accounts of Over 1,560 Battles from 1479 B.C. to the Present. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.








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