Siege of Gibraltar
1779 CE · Gibraltar
The Siege of Gibraltar was fought in 1779 CE in Gibraltar between Great Britain vs Spain and France; British victory; the garrison held out for more than three years and the siege was abandoned.
Siege of Gibraltar: quick facts
- Date
- 1779 CE
- Location
- Gibraltar
- Belligerents
- Great Britain vs Spain and France
- Commanders
- George Augustus Eliott vs the Duc de Crillon
- Result
- British victory; the garrison held out for more than three years and the siege was abandoned.
- Era
- ⛵ Colonial & Napoleonic Era
- Quiz difficulty
- hard
What happened at the Siege of Gibraltar?
Spain and France besieged the British fortress of Gibraltar for nearly four years during the American Revolutionary War, hoping to recapture the strategic peninsula controlling the Mediterranean entrance. The British garrison under General George Eliott endured bombardment, starvation, and a dramatic assault by specially constructed floating batteries, which the defenders destroyed using red-hot shot. The successful defense of Gibraltar was one of Britain's most celebrated military achievements of the 18th century and ensured British control of this vital strategic position.
Did you know?
During the Great Siege of Gibraltar, the British garrison heated cannonballs until they were red-hot before firing them at the enemy's floating batteries, setting them ablaze from within.
Sources and further reading
- Siege of Gibraltar on Wikipedia for the full account, historiography and primary sources.
- How BattleGuess compiles and checks battle facts: see the About page.
Entry last reviewed 26 September 2026.