PolarBear
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In the 1740s, England was at war with Spain in what was known as the War of Jenkins Ear. In the colony of Virginia, Col. William Gooch raised a regiment of 4 battalions totaling 3000 men. They were specifically formed as a unit that would fight in tropical climates such as the West Indies. These soldiers were initially used as marines traveling to South America with a British naval expedition. There they participated in the Battle of Cartagena de Indias which has been described as
"the decisive battle of a massive amphibious expedition by the forces of Britain against Spain , taking place at the city of Cartagena de Indias, in present day Colombia, starting in March 1741. It is the most significant battle in the War of Jenkins' Ear and one of the largest naval campaigns in British history."
The American marines (the 1st American force of this type--predating the Continental Marines of the American War of Independence) were nicknamed Gooch's Marines. Among the officers from Virginia in the regiment was Lawrence Washington, the half-brother of George Washington. When Lawrence returned to Virginia after the war, he named his estate there Mount Vernon. This was in honor of Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon who had led the expedition to Cartagena. Unfortunately like many other marines who had done battle in the tropics, Lawrence contracted a disease in South America that led to his death at an early age. He willed his estate of Mount Vernon to George and the rest as they say is history.
Illustrations:
Battle of Cartagena de Indias
Lawrence Washington (believed to be wearing the red officer's uniform of Gooch's Marines)
Mount Vernon
Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon
George Washington in the 1750s
"the decisive battle of a massive amphibious expedition by the forces of Britain against Spain , taking place at the city of Cartagena de Indias, in present day Colombia, starting in March 1741. It is the most significant battle in the War of Jenkins' Ear and one of the largest naval campaigns in British history."
The American marines (the 1st American force of this type--predating the Continental Marines of the American War of Independence) were nicknamed Gooch's Marines. Among the officers from Virginia in the regiment was Lawrence Washington, the half-brother of George Washington. When Lawrence returned to Virginia after the war, he named his estate there Mount Vernon. This was in honor of Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon who had led the expedition to Cartagena. Unfortunately like many other marines who had done battle in the tropics, Lawrence contracted a disease in South America that led to his death at an early age. He willed his estate of Mount Vernon to George and the rest as they say is history.
Illustrations:
Battle of Cartagena de Indias
Lawrence Washington (believed to be wearing the red officer's uniform of Gooch's Marines)
Mount Vernon
Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon
George Washington in the 1750s
