Navy - reasons for acquisition of key naval bases and how these changed 1763-1914

Question 1

When was the British base at Minorca besieged?

Answer 1

1781

Question 2

When did Britain lose Minorca to Spanish?

Answer 2

1782

Question 3

When did Britain acquire the Falkland Islands?

Answer 3

1833

Question 4

Where became a Royal Navy base in 1839?

Answer 4

Aden

Question 5

When was Cyprus acquired for the Royal Navy ?

Answer 5

1878

Question 6

Where is Gibraltar (which made it important)?

Answer 6

At narrow point between Britain and Africa so gateway to Mediterranean for Brits and obstacle for France moving ships between Med and Atlantic

Question 7

Over what period was Gibraltar besieged?

Answer 7

1779-1783

Question 8

Which country initially besieged Gibraltar in 1779 and why?

Answer 8

Spain, as they wanted it back (having been seized by Britain in 1704)

Question 9

Why did blockade of Gibraltar fail?

Answer 9

three relief convoys managed to enter in 1780, 1781 and 1782 due to poor Spanish sailing skills and adverse winds

Question 10

When did France join Spain in the siege of Gibraltar?

Answer 10

1782

Question 11

How many soldiers defended Gibraltar during the Grand Assault?

Answer 11

5000

Question 12

When was the Grand Assault on Gibraltar launched?

Answer 12

13 September 1782

Question 13

How many floating batteries were launched in the Grand Assault against Gibraltar?

Answer 13

10 floating batteries

Question 14

How did France secure Spain’s entry into the American War of Independence?

Answer 14

by supporting Spain’s reconquest of Minorca and Gibraltar under Treaty of Aranjuez

Question 15

Ceylon was the main producer of what valuable spice?

Answer 15

cinnamon

Question 16

Which ships were dispatched in 1794 to capture Ceylon?

Answer 16

HMS Suffolk, a ship of the line, accompanied by a frigate

Question 17

What was the value of goods captured in Ceylon in 1782?

Answer 17

£300k

Question 18

What was the political impetus for capture of Ceylon?

Answer 18

Netherlands conquered by France so Dutch royal family fled to England and were pressurised into ordering Dutch colonies to surrender to British forces for protection

Question 19

Why was Cape Town of strategic importance?

Answer 19

location between Europe and East Indies meant naval fleet could prevent enemy shipping from sailing between Indian and Atlantic Oceans, cutting a major trading route

Question 20

When did Britain occupy Cape Town?

Answer 20

1795-1802 (when returned to Dutch) and
1806-1814 (when again returned to Dutch)

Question 21

How did Britain come to acquire Malta?

Answer 21

Locals rebelled against French garrison and asked Britain for help, Nelson blockaded Valletta in 1799 and French surrendered in 1800

Question 22

What happened in 1837 that was the impetus for the acqusition of Aden in 1839?

Answer 22

British ship, the Duria Dowlat, ran aground in Aden and was plundered by locals, so British government wanted to make an example of what happened to those who challenged British dominance.

Question 23

Who was sent to negotiate with the sultan of Aden?

Answer 23

Commander Stafford Haines

Question 24

What was Haines original aim in Aden?

Answer 24

recompense for the outrage of the Duria Dowlat and use of a coal depot

Question 25

What was the key part of a letter from the sultan of Aden to Haines and what did it lead to?

Answer 25

It said "you can then make houses or forts or do what you like; the town will then be yours" - context suggests it was just a negotiating position but used by Haines to claim a treaty for occupation had been agreed.

Question 26

Who sent troops in 1938 to assist Haines in taking Aden and what did he send?

Answer 26

Farish, deputy governor of Bombay sent two frigates and 700 men.

Question 27

When was Aden secured for British use?

Answer 27

1839

Question 28

Why did Sir Robert Grant believe Aden should be taken over for the East India Company?

Answer 28

He was governor of Bombay and believed that pre-emptively seizing "places of strength" would protect India.

Question 29

Was Aden particularly useful as a port for the first few years?

Answer 29

Not really - not at major trade route crossroads and no navy based there; slightly useful for coaling of mail steamers.

Question 30

What changed that made Aden a useful port?

Answer 30

opening of Suez Canal meant it was on main shipping route from India to Europe

Question 31

What did Prime Minister Disraeli do in 1875 that was popular with the public?

Answer 31

purchased shares in Suez Canal

Question 32

What legislation did Disraeli pass in respect of Queen Victoria and why?

Answer 32

Gave her the title Empress of India to give her same rank as Russian emperor

Question 33

Whose side was Disraeli on in the Russian-Turkish War in 1877 - Russians or Ottoman Empire - and why?

Answer 33

Ottoman Empire (despite their massacres of Balkan Nationalists) because he didn't want Russians to take Constantinople, as this would give them open access to Med and ability to close Black See to British shipping

Question 34

In 1877, how much did Disraeli persuade parliament to approve to prepare navy and army for war with Russia?

Answer 34

£6 million

Question 35

When did Ottoman Empire surrender and what did they cede to Russia?

Answer 35

1878, ceding most of Balkans

Question 36

What two key things happened at the 1878 congress in Berlin?

Answer 36

1. Disraeli and the German chancellor, Bismarck, forced Russia to abandon some of its territorial gains to avoid war with Britain and Germany. 2. Britain secured lease of Cyprus.

Question 37

Give three reasons why acquisition of Cyprus in 1878 was important?

Answer 37

1. base in the eastern Med from which Royal Navy could monitor and counter any further Russian expansion 2. another port on route to India 3. base to intervene in Egypt if necessary to protect stake in Suez Canal

Question 38

Who held Cyprus before Britain?

Answer 38

Ottoman Empire

Question 39

Why did Ottoman Empire agree to lease Cyprus to Britain?

Answer 39

They needed British support to reclaim at least some of their territory from Russia.

Question 40

How much did Britain lease Cyprus for?

Answer 40

£92,799 per year

Question 41

Who paid the lease for Cyprus?

Answer 41

inhabitants of Cyprus via taxes

Question 42

Who received the rent for Cyprus?

Answer 42

It was sent to London to pay debts from the Crimean War that Ottoman Empire had defaulted on.

Question 43

What did acquisition of Cyprus demonstrate to the world?

Answer 43

That British imperial policy not just about economics and trade routes but also about constraining the territorial ambitions of others

Question 44

Which parties did Disraeli and Gladstone lead?

Answer 44

Disraeli - Conservatives Gladstone - Liberals

Question 45

What was the *Mid-Lothian Campaign*?

Answer 45

series of four speeches by Gladstone attacking Disraeli's foreign policy, saying the government was financially incompetent and had engaged in unjustifiable wars

Question 46

Who won the 1880 election?

Answer 46

Liberals / Gladstone

Question 47

Why was Gladstone criticised in 1994 re the Royal Navy and what did the criticism lead to?

Answer 47

* criticised for reducing government spending on Royal Navy * led to increase in spending, eg in 1884 spent extra £3.1m on warships and £2.4m on naval based and ordnance

Question 48

What forced Gladstone to resign in 1885?

Answer 48

Defeat of British in Sudan