The Battle of Buceo was a decisive naval battle which took place on 14–17 May 1814, during the

Argentine War of Independence The Argentine War of Independence () was a secessionist civil war (until 1816) fought from 1810 to 1818 by Argentine patriotic forces under Manuel Belgrano, Juan José Castelli, Martín Miguel de Güemes, Martin Miguel de Guemes and José de ...

between an Argentine fleet under Irish-born naval commander William Brown and a Spanish fleet under Admiral Sierra off the coast of

Montevideo Montevideo (, ; ) is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Uruguay, largest city of Uruguay. According to the 2023 census, the city proper has a population of 1,302,954 (about 37.2% of the country's total population) in an area of . M ...

, in today's

Uruguay Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast, while bordering the Río de la Plata to the south and the A ...

Outcome

Five Spanish ships were burned and two were captured on 17 May. The other surrendered later and 500 prisoners were taken. Argentine forces lost four men killed in action and one ship. William Brown was given the rank of admiral because of this victory.

Ships involved

Provinces of the Río de la Plata (William Brown)

''Hercules'' 32 (flag)
''Zephyr'' 18 (King)
''Nancy'' 10 (Leech)
''Julietta'' 7 (McDougald)
''Belfast'' 18 (Oliver Russell)
''Agreeable'' 16 (Lemare)
''Trinidad'' 12 (Wack)

Spain (Sienna)

''Hyena'' 18 (flag)
''Mercurio'' 32
''Neptuno'' 28 – Captured by ''Belfast'' 16 May
''Mercedes'' 20
''Palomo'' 18 – Captured 16 May
''San Jose'' 16 – Captured 16 May
''Cisne'' 12
6 schooners

References

nuestromar.org

External links

Batalla naval de Buceo/Montevideo
(Spanish)

Buceo Buceo is a ''barrio'' (neighbourhood or district) in Montevideo, Uruguay. Buceo borders Pocitos and Villa Dolores to the west, Parque Batlle, Unión and Malvín Norte to the north, Malvín to the east and the coastline to the south. Descript ...

1814 in Uruguay Buceo