Battle of San Juan (1595)

Battle of San Juan (1595)
Part of the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604)
Ship entering the San Juan Bay, in front of Fort San Felipe del Morro - view from Isla de Cabras.
Date 22 November 1595 Location Viejo San Juan Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
Spain	England
Commanders and leaders
Admiral Pedro Tello de Guzmán Admiral Gonzalo Méndez de Cancio Capt. Sancho Pardo Donlebún Governor Pedro Suárez Coronel[1][2][3]	Francis Drake
Strength
5 frigates 700 soldiers and 800 sailors 70 land-based guns[4][2][1]	25 ships 2,500 soldiers and sailors
Casualties and losses
1 frigate burnt 40 killed[4]	8–10 ships sunk 400 killed[4]

The Battle of San Juan (1595) was a Spanish victory during the Anglo–Spanish War. This war broke out in 1585 and was fought not only in the European theatre but in Spain's American colonies. After emerging from six years of disgrace following the resounding defeat of the English Armada at Lisbon in 1589, Francis Drake embarked on a long and disastrous campaign against the Spanish Main, suffering several consecutive defeats there. On 22 November 1595 Drake and John Hawkins tried to invade San Juan, Puerto Rico with 27 ships and 2,500 men. After failing to be able to land at the Ensenada del Escambron on the eastern end of San Juan Islet, he attempted to sail into San Juan Bay with the intention of sacking the city.^[5] Unable to capture the island, following the death of his comrade, John Hawkins, Drake abandoned San Juan, and set sail for Panama where he died from disease and received a burial at sea after failing to establish an English settlement in America.