In 1738 the British Parliament was appalled when the captain of a merchant ship bound for trading in the Americas presented his severed ear to those gathered. His name was Robert Jenkins and he explained to them the story of how nearly a year before his ship had been boarded off the coast of Florida. A Spaniard named Fandino Julio Leon with the coast guard had declared Jenkins a smuggler before hacking off his ear Reservoir Dogs style saying, "Here, take this back to your king to show him what we think of his smugglers." Needless to say this stinging stain on British honour did not sit well with the gentlemen and Sirs of Parliament and war against Spain was immediately declared. In 1742 the conflict between England and Spain became a part of the War of Austrian Succession (aka World War 1/2 because almost everyone, including colonial America, became involved). It has been suggested that The War of Jenkin's Ear, so named by Thomas Caryle a century later in 1858, is indeed one of history's silliest.
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In 1738 the British Parliament was appalled when the captain of a merchant ship bound for trading in the Americas presented his severed ear to those gathered. His name was Robert Jenkins and he explained to them the story of how nearly a year before his ship had been boarded off the coast of Florida. A Spaniard named Fandino Julio Leon with the coast guard had declared Jenkins a smuggler before hacking off his ear Reservoir Dogs style saying, "Here, take this back to your king to show him what we think of his smugglers." Needless to say this stinging stain on British honour did not sit well with the gentlemen and Sirs of Parliament and war against Spain was immediately declared. In 1742 the conflict between England and Spain became a part of the War of Austrian Succession (aka World War 1/2 because almost everyone, including colonial America, became involved). It has been suggested that The War of Jenkin's Ear, so named by Thomas Caryle a century later in 1858, is indeed one of history's silliest.