British Fleet for Portugal

Introduction

In 1735, a dispute having broken out between Spain and Portugal, the latter power solicited British aid against the Spaniards; and, in response, a large fleet, under Admiral Sir John Norris, with Vice-Admiral Sir John Balchen (E.), and Rear-Admiral Nicholas Haddock (W.), was dispatched to Lisbon, sailing from Spithead on May 27th, and reaching the Tagus on June 9th. The demonstration was made not only in the general interests of peace, but also in the particular interests of the many British merchants whose welfare was more or less dependent upon the safety of the then homecoming Portuguese flota from Brazil ; and it was so efficacious that an actual rupture between the two countries was prevented.