Book Review: ‘The War of Jenkins’ Ear’: A Neglected Conflict

Book Review: ‘The War of Jenkins’ Ear’: A Neglected Conflict
A painting by Samuel Scott of a battle during the War of Jenkins' Ear, depicting the capture of the Spanish ship Nuestra Señora de Cavadonga by the British ship Centurion in June 1743. PD-US
Jeff Minick
Updated:

Many people have probably never heard of the “War of Jenkins’ Ear,” which sounds like the name of a skit from an old Monty Python show.

In my own case, I was a history major in college with two years of graduate school in that same subject, and until now, if pressed, I might have dredged up a few details of that struggle. I’d have told you that decades before the American Revolution, Robert Jenkins was captain of a commercial ship and that the Spanish stopped him, tortured him, and cut off his ear. Jenkins returned to England, went to the Parliament, waved about his severed ear, and demanded justice. Parliament then promptly declared war on Spain.

Jeff Minick
Jeff Minick
Author
Jeff Minick has four children and a growing platoon of grandchildren. For 20 years, he taught history, literature, and Latin to seminars of homeschooling students in Asheville, N.C. He is the author of two novels, “Amanda Bell” and “Dust on Their Wings,” and two works of nonfiction, “Learning as I Go” and “Movies Make the Man.” Today, he lives and writes in Front Royal, Va.
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