The Final Stand of Glorioso – The…

The Final Stand of Glorioso – The Battle off Cape Saint Vincent (October 17–18, 1747)

Having successfully delivered her cargo of four million silver dollars at Corcubión, the Spanish ship of the line Glorioso underwent critical repairs before resuming her voyage. Captain Pedro Messía de la Cerda, seeking a safe harbor for more extensive refitting, originally intended to sail for Ferrol. However, contrary winds damaged her rigging, forcing a change of course toward Cádiz. To avoid further British encounters, Glorioso initially steered away from the Portuguese coast, but on October 17, near Cape Saint Vincent, she encountered a British privateer squadron under Commodore George Walker.

The 'Royal Family' Squadron Strikes

Walker’s four privateer frigates, known collectively as the "Royal Family" due to their names, were:

• King George
• Prince Frederick
• Princess Amelia
• Duke

Together, these light but heavily armed ships carried 960 men and 120 guns—a formidable force against merchantmen or weaker warships but ill-matched against a powerful ship of the line like Glorioso.

At 8 AM, Walker’s flagship King George managed to close in on Glorioso. The Spanish warship’s first broadside immediately inflicted serious damage, knocking out two British guns and destroying King George’s mainmast. Despite this, the British squadron persisted, engaging in a three-hour running battle as they pursued Glorioso southward.

Recognizing the challenge posed by the lone but defiant Spanish vessel, Walker’s squadron received reinforcements later that evening:

• HMS Dartmouth (50 guns, Captain John Hamilton)
• HMS Russell (92 guns, a powerful ship of the line)

A Fierce Naval Duel and the Destruction of HMS Dartmouth

By the afternoon of October 18, Captain John Hamilton of HMS Dartmouth managed to bring his ship alongside Glorioso, initiating an intense artillery exchange. The Spanish gunners, well-trained and battle-hardened, responded with devastating accuracy.

At 3:30 PM, disaster struck the British. Amidst the fierce cannonade, a well-placed Spanish shot struck HMS Dartmouth’s light-room, igniting a fire in the powder magazine. Within moments, the flames reached the ship’s gunpowder stores, triggering a catastrophic explosion that obliterated the vessel.

Captain Hamilton and nearly the entire crew perished in the inferno, with only a handful of survivors:

• A lieutenant, Christopher O’Brien
• Eleven seamen rescued by lifeboats from Prince Frederick

Eyewitness reports suggest 14–15 sailors survived from a crew of 325–330 men. One survivor later claimed that HMS Dartmouth was already dismasted and heavily damaged before the fatal explosion.

The Final Assault and Surrender

Despite losing HMS Dartmouth, the British continued their relentless attack. The three privateer frigates regrouped with HMS Russell by the evening of October 18. Throughout the night, the combined squadron riddled Glorioso with cannon fire, pounding her from midnight until 9 AM the following morning.

By dawn on October 19, Glorioso was on the verge of sinking:

• Almost completely dismasted
• Out of ammunition
• 33 men killed and 130 wounded

Realizing that further resistance was impossible, Captain de la Cerda made the difficult decision to surrender his ship.

Aftermath and British Reactions

Despite their numerical superiority, the British had paid a heavy price to subdue a single Spanish warship.

• HMS Russell suffered 12 dead and several wounded
• King George lost 8 crewmen

After the battle, the British squadron sailed to Lisbon, towing the badly damaged Glorioso. However, when the Royal Navy surveyed the Spanish warship, they declined to commission her, and she was ultimately broken up.

Meanwhile, Commodore George Walker, commander of the privateer squadron, faced harsh criticism from his financial backers. One of the owners of the "Royal Family" frigates rebuked him for risking his ships against such a powerful opponent. Walker, defiant, responded:

“Had the treasure been aboard Glorioso, as I expected, my dear sir, your compliment would have been far different. Or had we let her escape from us with the treasure aboard, what would you have said then?”
— Commodore George Walker, Lisbon, October 1747

Spanish Recognition and Legacy

Though prisoners of war, Captain de la Cerda and his crew were treated with respect and admiration by the British, who marveled at their incredible resilience in battle.

• The Spanish sailors were imprisoned in London, where they gained widespread admiration, even among their captors.
• Upon returning to Spain, de la Cerda was promoted to Commodore in recognition of his extraordinary bravery.
• The surviving crew received official honors and rewards.

The saga of Glorioso remains one of the most legendary last stands in naval history, demonstrating Spanish tenacity against overwhelming odds. Despite fighting alone for months, pursued by British warships and privateers, Glorioso had delivered her treasure to Spain, engaged in multiple battles, and inflicted heavy damage on her enemies before finally succumbing.

Her story stands as a testament to the skill, discipline, and courage of the Spanish Navy during the War of the Austrian Succession, and it continues to be celebrated as one of the great epics of 18th-century naval warfare.