Atlas of Battles

battle, early modern

Battle of La Guaira

Battle of La Guaira was a battle fought on 2 March 1743 at La Guaira, in what is now Venezuela. It was part of the War of Jenkins' Ear, which ran from 1739 to 1748. The recorded result: Spanish victory. Recorded strength: 1,000 against 2,400 troops; 8 ships of line; 9 frigates, bomb vessels and fire ships; 2 troopships.

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Engraving of the attack on La Guaira 1743 by the British.
Engraving of the attack on La Guaira 1743 by the British.. Diary of Caracas, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought2 March 1743
WhereLa Guaira, Venezuela10.600N, 66.933W
OutcomeSpanish victory
BelligerentsSpainagainstGreat Britain
Casualties and losses300 killed or woundedand97 killed; 308 wounded
Part ofWar of Jenkins' Ear1739 to 1748

Where it sits in the War of Jenkins' Ear

Battle of Porto Bello, 1739Action of 8 April 1740, 1740Siege of St. Augustine, 1740Siege of Fort Mose, 1740Battle of Cartagena de Indias, 1741Battle of Santiago de Cuba, 1741Battle of Bloody Marsh, 1742Battle of La Guaira, 1743Battle of Puerto Cabello, 1743Voyage of the Glorioso, 1747Action of 18 March 1748, 1748Battle of Santiago de Cuba, 1748Battle of Havana, 174817391748Battle of La Guaira, 1743
13 placed engagements of the War of Jenkins' Ear in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date2 March 1743
PlaceLa Guaira, Venezuela
10.600N, 66.933W
KindBattle, early modern
Strength1,0002,400 troops; 8 ships of line; 9 frigates, bomb vessels and fire ships; 2 troopships
Casualties and losses300 killed or wounded97 killed; 308 wounded
Commanders
  • Mateo Gual
  • Sir Charles Knowles, 1st Baronet
  • Chaloner Ogle
Battle of La GuairaBattle of La GuairaBattle of La GuairaBattle of La VictoriaBattle of La VictoriaBattle of San MateoSecond Battle of La PuertaBattle of La GuairaBattle of La VictoriaBattle of San MateoSecond Battle of La PuertaPuerto CabelloAltagracia de OritucoSan Carlos100 km10.600N, 66.933W
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1743

Battle of La Guaira is one of 2,009 engagements of the 18th century in the atlas and one of 43 in present-day Venezuela.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q4871513, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of La Guaira, revision 1377058954, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.