Action of 5 October 1804

36°53′48″N 7°53′42″W / 36.89663°N 7.895033°W / 36.89663; -7.895033

The Battle of Cape Santa Maria was a naval engagement that took place off the southern coast of Portugal on October 5, 1804. In this confrontation, a British squadron under the command of Commodore Graham Moore attacked a Spanish squadron led by Brigadier Don José de Bustamante y Guerra. Although Britain and Spain were technically at peace at the time, tensions were high, and the British sought to intercept Spanish ships carrying treasure from the Americas. The attack resulted in the capture of three Spanish frigates and the destruction of a fourth, escalating tensions and leading Spain to declare war on Britain shortly afterward.

Historically, while Britain is often seen as dominant at sea, it also suffered several notable defeats against Spanish forces. One of the most famous is the Battle of Cartagena de Indias (1741), where Blas de Lezo, a one-eyed, one-armed, and one-legged Spanish admiral, successfully defended the city against a massive British fleet. His brilliant tactics and determination led to a humiliating British defeat, marking one of the greatest naval failures in British history.