Action of 19 January 1799 | |||||||
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Part of the French Revolutionary Wars | |||||||
![]() Engraving of Gibraltar as seen from the north, depicting the view as seen in 1852. | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Unknown | Mourelle de la Rúa | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
1 third-rate, 1 gun-brig, 3 gunboats, 4 merchant ships, 3 merchant brigs[1] |
1 mistico, 14 gunboats[1] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
1 gunboat sunk, 1 merchant ship captured, 2 merchant brigs captured, 1 gunboat captured, 120 prisoners[1] | minor |
The action of 19 January 1799 was a minor naval battle of the French Revolutionary Wars fought in waters of the Strait of Gibraltar, off Punta Europa. A Spanish squadron of 14 gunboats with a mistico as flagship, commanded by Francisco Mourelle de la Rua, attacked a British merchant convoy escorted by several Royal Navy warships, among them a 74-gun ship of the line. The British warships failed to defend the convoy, losing a gunboat sunk and another captured. The convoy also lost a ship and two brigs. For this action Mourelle de la Rua was promoted to frigate captain.[1]