The Siege of Cartagena: Vernon's Fleet vs. Blas de Lezo

In 1741, the British Empire launched its largest naval expedition of the century against the Spanish port of Cartagena de Indias. Admiral Edward Vernon's 186 ships and 27,000 men faced a Spanish defense led by the one-eyed, one-armed, one-legged Basque admiral Blas de Lezo. This episode unpacks the siege that became a turning point in the War of Jenkins' Ear, from the strategic thinking of de Lezo and Governor Sebastián de Eslava to the epidemic that decimated the British forces. We look at the fortifications, the tactics, the leadership failures, and why this victory became a foundation of Colombian pride. Along the way, we consider how the war reshaped the balance of power in the Caribbean and set a pattern for Spanish resilience against overwhelming odds.

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