The Virginius Affair (sometimes called the Virginius Incident) is a diplomatic dispute that occurs from October 1873 to February 1875 between the United States, Great Britain and Spain, then in control of Cuba, during the Ten Years' War.
The Virginius is a fast American ship hired by Cuban insurrectionists to land men and munitions in Cuba to attack Spain.
It is captured by Spain, which wants to try and execute the men on board as pirates; they are American and British citizens.
They do execute 53 men but stop when Britain demands it.
Throughout the ordeal, there is loose talk that the U. S. might declare war on Spain.
During the lengthy negotiations, the Spanish government undergoes several changes in leadership.
American consul Caleb Cushing ends the episode by negotiating $80,000 in reparations to be paid to American families of those who had been executed.
British families are compensated by the Spanish government through negotiation prior to American compensation.
The incident is remarkable for the use of international diplomacy for peace implemented by Grant's able Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, rather than by degrading into a costly military war between the United States and Spain.
The Virginius Affair starts a U. S. Naval resurgence following the American Civil War; the American fleet having been susceptible to the superior naval warships of Spain.
