1739
From the year 1714 to 1739 no corps of Marines, except four invalid companies, were kept on the establishment of the army.
For several years Spain had beheld with great jealousy the growing commerce and increasing naval consequence of Great Britain, particularly in the neighbourhood of her possessions in South America, where Spain had endeavoured to monopolize the whole commerce and wealth of Mexico and Peru; the vessels of foreign powers were forbidden, under severe penalties, to approach within a certain distance of her American possessions; and to enforce this, the American seas were filled with Spanish cruisers, whose enormities at length attracted the attention of the British parliament. After fruitless representations to the court of Madrid for redress, the British ministry at length determined on hostilities; and, with the acclamations of the nation, war was formally declared against Spain on the 23rd of October, 1739.
It was again considered necessary to form an efficient maritime force in distinct regiments, by which means the corps of the regular army could be embarked when required for continental services, and the marine regiments could be employed, either on board of ships of war, or at the naval stations, as might be considered best for the public service.
Orders were issued for augmenting the land forces, and also for forming six regiments of marines, each to consist of ten companies of seventy privates in each company, and to be commanded by
1st, Colonel Edward Wolfe, from 3rd Foot Guards;
2nd, Colonel W. Robinson, from Handasyd’s 22nd regiment;
3rd, Colonel Andrew Lowther, from 2nd Foot Guards;
4th, Colonel John Wynyard, from Tyrrell’s regiment;
5th, Colonel Charles Douglas, from Howard’s regiment;
6th, Colonel Lucius Ducie Moreton, from 3rd Foot Guards.
In order to facilitate the speedy formation of these corps, and to render them effective, five men from each company of the regiments of foot guards were appointed serjeants and corporals; and further, that they might be rapidly completed, a bounty of thirty shillings per man was allowed to 1800 men who volunteered from the regiments of infantry to the marine corps: by these energies, the whole of the marine regiments were soon raised and disciplined.
On the prospect of the commencement of hostilities Admiral Vernon had sailed for Jamaica, where he arrived in October, 1739, with a fleet of five ships, having 200 marines on board, and proceeded from thence to Porto Bello, the destined object of his attach, which was at that time the great mart for the wealthy commerce of Chili and Peru; the attempt was fraught with many difficulties, but it was undertaken and performed with spirit and promptitude.
On the 21st of November, 1739, the attack was commenced by the ships, in line of battle, against the Iron Castle, a strong fort at the north point of the entrance into the harbour. The Spaniards flying from several parts of it, an instant debarkation of the seamen and marines from on board the Burford, Norwich, and Worcester took place under cover of those ships, and the fort was carried. Upon the 22nd an attack was intended against the whole, but the enemy displayed the white flag as a signal of surrender. After destroying the fortifications, which from their strength required some time, the Admiral with his squadron sailed for Jamaica on the 13th of December, 1739.
1740