Drake's Assault on Panama | |||||||
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Part of the Anglo–Spanish War | |||||||
Burial of Drake off Panama in 1596, painting by Thomas Davidson | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Spain | England | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Alonso de Sotomayor Juan Enríquez Conabut |
Francis Drake # [2] Thomas Baskerville | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
Various shores defences 200 soldiers & militia |
15 ships 600 soldiers & sailors[3] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Unknown |
Heavy Many to disease 2 ships scuttled[4] |
Drake's Assault on Panama also known as the Defence of Panama was a military event that took place in January 1596 during the Anglo–Spanish War. An English expedition under the command of Francis Drake and Thomas Baskerville attacked the Spanish Main via Nombre de Dios in order to cross the isthmus of Panama.[5] Ravaged with dysentery and other diseases the English were repelled and defeated. Drake would die of the former and the expedition was forced to retreat back to England all the while harassed by the Spanish.[4]