Portuguese attack on the Catherine (1618)

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Portuguese attack on the Catherine
Part of English expedition to the Gambia River (1618)
DateSeptember, 1618
Location
Result Portuguese victory
Belligerents
Flag of Portugal (1578).svg Kingdom of Portugal Flag of England.svg  Kingdom of England
Commanders and leaders
Flag of Portugal (1578).svg Hector NunezFlag of England.svg George Thompson
Units involved
UnknownFlag of England.svgCatherine
Strength
Unkown number of Portuguese soldiers and castes 1 vessel
“Few left on board” [1]
Casualties and losses
Unknown All killed

The Portuguese attack on the Catherine was the Portuguese attack on the English vessel, the Catherine.

Contents

Background

Letters patent granting exclusive trading rights in the Gambia River were issued to various adventurers in 1598, 1612, and 1632, but it wasn't until 1618 that the English made their first attempt to explore the river. This expedition was led by George Thompson, with the aim of opening trade with Timbuktu. [1] [2]

Portuguese attack

Leaving his ship, the Catherine, at Gassan, Thompson proceeded with a small party in boats up the Neriko river. During his absence, the crew of the Catherine was massacred by the Portuguese. All Englishmen present at Gassan were killed in the surprise assault. [1] [2]

Aftermath

Some of Thompson's party managed to return overland to Cape Verde and subsequently to England. Meanwhile, Thompson remained in the Gambia with seven companions but was killed by one of them after a sudden quarrel. Another expedition under Richard Jobson was later dispatched, which seized Portuguese shipping in retaliation for the massacre. Jobson also traveled to Neriko, reporting the commercial potential of the river. However, both his and previous expeditions resulted in significant losses, leading patentees to abandon further ventures in the Gambia and refocus on the Gold Coast. [1] [2]

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References

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gray 1940, pp. 21–22.
  2. 1 2 3 Annual Report on the Social and Economic Progress of the People of The Gambia (PDF). Bathurst: HM Stationery Office. 1938. p. 2.

Sources