The Engagement of the CENTURION and ACAPULCO, off Cape Espiritu-Santo in which the latter was taken

Description

copper engraving, strong impression.

SCARCE view in an ornate medallion presentation of the battle between the Spanish Galleon “Cabadonga” and George Anson’s ship the “Centurion” which took it. “Acapulco” refers to the Mexican Port as the “Acapulco Galleon”. Published by Alex r Hogg at the Kings Arms, No. 16 Paternoster Row.” Hogg was best known as the publisher of Cook’s Journals.
While Great Britain was at war with Spain in 1740, Anson led a squadron of 8 ships on a mission to disrupt or capture Spain’s Pacific possessions. Returning to Britain in 1744 via China and thus completing a circumnavigation. The voyage was not only notable for the capture of the galleon but also for horrific losses mostly due to scurvy with only 188 men of the original 1,854 surviving.
Anson was compared with Francis Drake and was promoted to First Lord of the Admiralty in 1751. It was a vast popular and commercial success as the spoils form the Galleon financed virtually the entire British Navy.