One of the most notable characteristics of warfare in the second half of the eighteenth century was the marked shift of naval activity to the West Indies. There, the lure of these immensely rich sugar-producing lands proved irresistible to the great powers and meant that, whenever England went to war with any of them, strategists on both sides also turned their attention westwards, across the Atlantic.

During the American War of Independence (1775-83), first France and then Spain allied themselves to the infant ‘United States’ in the hope of making territorial gains at England’s expense, and the Royal Navy found itself pitted against the combined forces of two powerful opponents. Despite the enemy’s numerical advantage however England’s navy achieved many victories, including this little-known encounter off the coast of Honduras in the autumn of 1779. What constitutes modern Honduras was under Spanish colonial rule and its coast was protected by a line of forts, one of which was the formidable stronghold of San Fernando at Omoa.

In September 1779, a squadron under the command of Captain the Hon. John Luttrell was cruising in the Gulf of Honduras when it received intelligence that two Spanish treasure ships were sheltering in the harbour at Omoa close by. Luttrell, with three frigates [Charon, 44-guns, Lowestoft-32 and Pomona-28] plus some smaller vessels at his disposal, decided to assault the town and its fortress in a series of operations which dragged over several days. Although the town was soon secured with ease, the fort itself held out stubbornly until Luttrell attacked it on the night of 19^th-20^th October in a brilliant manoeuvre crowned with success. Whilst the frigates bombarded the fort - essentially as a distraction - four storming parties of sailors, marines and men of the Royal Irish Regiment landed ashore, pushed forward and took the garrison when it was completely preoccupied with the naval bombardment. British casualties were negligible and treasure to the value of three million [Spanish] dollars was captured. History has recorded these events as a mere footnote within the wider context of the war but, as a daring and very unusual night attack, it was a triumph deserving of far more recognition.

Joseph Bromwich is first recorded as a master’s mate in HMS Lowestoft in 1779, during which time he served at the capture of Omoa and almost certainly commissioned the painting offered here as a memento of the event. From Lowestoft, he transferred into the Albemarle where he first came to the attention of her commander Captain Horatio Nelson. When Nelson was given command of the Boreas, he took Bromwich with him (as second lieutenant) and it appears the two men formed quite a close friendship to the extent that Nelson wrote to Admiral Keppel requesting preferment for Bromwich calling him “A brave and good officer”. After eighteen months in Boreas as “Nelson’s Navigator”, Bromwich transferred into the Adamant and although he did not serve with Nelson thereafter, he sought the latter’s patronage again in 1801 when, at Nelson’s request, Admiral Lord St. Vincent appointed Bromwich as Warden of Portsmouth Dockyard [a post carrying responsibility for security]. He took up this position in October 1802 and remained there until his death in April 1829.

We are grateful to Michael Naxton, Curator Emeritus, Ashcroft Medal Collection, for his kind assistance in cataloguing this lot.