The action of 11 November 1779 was a minor naval engagement between the British Royal Naval frigate and the Spanish frigate ''Santa Margarita'' off

Lisbon Lisbon (; pt, Lisboa ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 544,851 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km2. Grande Lisboa, Lisbon's urban area extends beyond the city's administr ...

during the Anglo-Spanish War. On 11 November, Captain

Alexander Graeme Admiral Alexander Graeme (9 December 1741 – 5 August 1818) was a Royal Navy officer who became Commander-in-Chief, The Nore. Naval career Born at ''Graemeshall'' in Orkney, Graeme became commanding officer of the sloop HMS ''Kingfisher'' in F ...

in ''Tartar'', belonging to the squadron under Commodore George Johnstone, was off Lisbon when he sighted the Spanish 38-gun frigate ''Santa Margarita''. ''Tartar'', with the wind behind her, caught up and engaged the Spanish vessel. After around two hours of fighting ''Santa Marguerita'' was almost dismasted when her captain decided to

strike Strike may refer to: People * Strike (surname) Physical confrontation or removal *Strike (attack), attack with an inanimate object or a part of the human body intended to cause harm *Airstrike, military strike by air forces on either a suspected ...

her colours.Allen 255 ''Santa Margarita'' was added to the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

under her existing name as a 12-pounder 36-gun frigate. She had a very long career, serving until 1836.

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References

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Action of 11 November 1779 Conflicts in 1779 Naval battles involving Great Britain Naval battles involving Spain Naval battles of the Anglo-Spanish War (1779–1783) Naval battles of the American Revolutionary War