A View of the Town and Castle of St. Augustine, and the English Camp before it June 20, 1740. by Thos. Silver

This is a contemporary plan of the abortive British siege of St Augustine in Spanish Florida during the War of Jenkins’ Ear. The Governor of Georgia, James Oglethorpe, commanded a force of regular troops, colonial militia and Native American allies, with naval support. The capture of St Augustine would have significantly weakened Spain’s hold on Florida, but Oglethorpe’s expedition was hopelessly mismanaged.

Our engraved map was based on one by Thomas Silver, who presumably accompanied the expedition; unfortunately we have been unable to locate any other examples of his work or references to his participation in the siege.

In 1739 Edward Cave began using maps to illustrate articles in his popular and influential Gentlemen’s Magazine (he was the first to use the term ‘magazine’ in the context of a periodical). A large and stable circulation and public interest in conflicts overseas enabled him to commission good quality engraved maps from established figures such as Emanuel Bowen and Thomas Jefferys.

Condition & Materials

Copper engraving, printed area measurement 30 x 16.5 cm, black and white, blank verso, lower corners torn but restored.

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The Siege of St Augustine in Spanish Florida