The War of Jenkins' Ear Trivia Quiz

Answer: 1739-1742

War was declared against Spain by Great Britain in October of 1739. There was no "official" end, although most historians agree that hostilities between Spain and England exclusively were over by 1742, mainly because there were almost no troops, as most had died of disease. The war was pretty much a stalemate, as neither side lost or gained any territory.

Answer: Spain

According to the Treaty of Seville (1729), England had agreed that they would not trade with any of the Spanish colonies. As part of the treaty, members of the Spanish coast guard were allowed to board English vessels to check for materials and produce from their colonies.

Answer: Spanish mistreatments of British merchant seamen

British merchant seaman brought back tales of hostilities by the Spanish coast guard who had boarded English ships to check for illegal Spanish contraband, which eventually led to Prime Minister Robert Walpole asking for a declaration of war. On the other side, the Spanish accused the British of illegal activities in Honduras and in Florida, and abuses of the Assiento, a 1713 contract between Spain and England to supply slaves for Spanish colonies in America.

Answer: James Oglethorpe

Oglethorpe led troops into Spanish Florida, capturing both Fort San Francisco de Pupa and Fort Picolata, located on the San Juan (St. Johns) River, in January of 1740. In 1732, Oglethorpe received a royal charter, founding the province of Georgia, and founded the settlement of Savannah in 1733.

Answer: St. Augustine

Troops led by James Oglethorpe laid siege to St. Augustine for two months, beginning in May of 1740, withdrawing when Spanish forces brought in from Havana outflanked him.

Answer: Seminoles

Oglethorpe's position in Georgia was a bit precarious. Although he was buttressed by the English colony of South Carolina to the north, he faced the French to the west and the Spanish to the south. To offset the French threat, treaties were secured with the friendly tribes of the Creeks, Chickasaws and Cherokees to protect his western flank. Once these were in hand, he was free to invade Florida.

Answer: Battle of Bloody Swamp

Also called the Battle of Bloody Marsh, this engagement was James Oglethorpe's "finest hour" on the battlefield, as it actually lasted about an hour. Facing certain annihilation by a Spanish invasion force of over 2,000 men at St Simons Island along the southern Georgia coast, Oglethorpe, with only 650 men, set a trap at an area that "bottlenecked" on the road that connected Fort St. Simons and Fort Frederica.

After fierce fighting, Spanish troops, low on ammunition and their commander mortally wounded, retreated to Fort St. Simons, withdrawing to St. Augustine three days later.

Answer: King George's War

The War of Jenkins' Ear never really had a definite ending. Hostilities still simmered and eventually overflowed when, with the signing of the Second Family Compact in 1742, France and Spain declared war on England, sparking King George's War, also known as the War of the Austrian Succession.

Answer: An English sea captain

Jenkins was a British privateer and captain of the ship Rebecca.

Answer: Jenkins claimed a Spanish lieutenant severed his ear

In 1731, in accordance with the Treaty of Seville (1729), Spanish coast guard boarded Jenkins' ship, Rebecca, to inspect it for contraband from Spanish colonies. Although none was found, Jenkins was tortured and his ear was severed. Reportedly, the Spanish lieutenant who performed the deed instructed Jenkins to take it back to King George and inform the king that they (Spanish) intended to do the same to him.

In 1738, after years of accusations of hostilities by both the British and Spanish, Jenkins and his pickled ear were brought before Parliament.

Inflamed passions were pushed beyond the limit, which was the hoped-for outcome by those who brought Jenkins to the seat of government, and a reluctant Prime Minister Walpole was prompted to declare war on Spain.