ADMIRAL ELPHINSTONE AND THE CONQUEST AND DEFENCE OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, 1795-96

dc.creator	Thean Potgieter
dc.creator	Albert Grundlingh
dc.date	2011-08-01T00:00:00Z
dc.date.accessioned	2015-07-20T20:09:30Z
dc.date.available	2015-07-20T20:09:30Z
dc.identifier	10.5787/35-2-37
dc.identifier	2224-0020
dc.identifier	https://doaj.org/article/3afdd41e7394416ab25e6394b0bb38dc
dc.identifier.uri	http://evidence.thinkportal.org/handle/123456789/9047
dc.identifier.uri	https://doaj.org/article/3afdd41e7394416ab25e6394b0bb38dc
dc.description	Vice Admiral of the Blue the Honourable Sir George Keith Elphinstone<br />(1746-1823) was appointed as commander of the British force dispatched to capture<br />the Cape of Good Hope in 1795. As an experienced naval officer and a capable<br />commander acquainted with the Cape and the Far East, he was the correct choice to<br />command the expedition. Due to the strategic location of the Cape of Good Hope –<br />literally halfway on the sea route to the East – it was vital for maritime<br />communications, and Britain had to ensure that the Cape did not fall into French<br />hands. To secure a safe base on the sea route to the East, a British expeditionary force<br />was sent to the Cape. The British task force arrived in False Bay on 11 June 1795 and<br />when negotiations with the Dutch authorities at the Cape failed, a military campaign<br />commenced that resulted in the capitulation of the Cape on 16 September 1795. In<br />August 1796, when a Dutch squadron under the command of Rear Admiral E. Lucas<br />anchored in Saldanha Bay, Elphinstone speedily neutralised the threat, forcing Lucas<br />to surrender. After a very successful service period at the Cape, Elphinstone returned<br />to Britain on 7 October 1796. He conducted the defence of the Cape with vigour and<br />actively sought out his enemy, confirming British control of the Cape and the virtual<br />impossibility of taking back the Cape with force of arms.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Military Science (Military Academy)
dc.relation	http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/37
dc.relation	https://doaj.org/toc/2224-0020
dc.source	Scientia Militaria : South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 35, Iss 2 (2011)
dc.subject	Military Science
dc.subject	U
dc.subject	DOAJ:Military Science
dc.subject	DOAJ:Technology and Engineering
dc.subject	Military Science
dc.subject	U
dc.subject	DOAJ:Military Science
dc.subject	DOAJ:Technology and Engineering
dc.subject	Military Science
dc.subject	U
dc.subject	Military Science
dc.subject	U
dc.subject	Military Science
dc.subject	U
dc.title	ADMIRAL ELPHINSTONE AND THE CONQUEST AND DEFENCE OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, 1795-96
dc.type	Article