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| - In 1795 the Dutch East India Company controlled the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. They had been in possession of the area since 1652, over 140 years. The once-mighty company was now failing. Bankrupt, confused, beset by powerful nations competing for the same resources, the VOC had not long to live. The British East India Company had developed its own trade to India and Ceylon, but relied on Cape Town as a refreshment station, just as the Dutch did. India was simply too far for a sailing ship to reach in one voyage from Europe. Wear and tear to the ship, sickness amongst the crew, need for provisions and fresh water meant that a halfway stop was essential. Without access to Cape Town, the British thought they might have to abandon their Asiatic trade. They claimed there
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| abstract
| - In 1795 the Dutch East India Company controlled the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. They had been in possession of the area since 1652, over 140 years. The once-mighty company was now failing. Bankrupt, confused, beset by powerful nations competing for the same resources, the VOC had not long to live. The British East India Company had developed its own trade to India and Ceylon, but relied on Cape Town as a refreshment station, just as the Dutch did. India was simply too far for a sailing ship to reach in one voyage from Europe. Wear and tear to the ship, sickness amongst the crew, need for provisions and fresh water meant that a halfway stop was essential. Without access to Cape Town, the British thought they might have to abandon their Asiatic trade. They claimed there were no alternatives. In 1795 the political turmoil in Europe saw the Netherlands attacked by France, the second such attack. Prince William of Orange fled to England, his ally. The citizens of Holland had coalesced into the Patriots (Republicans who now supported the French) and the Orangists, royalists who supported Prince William. For the British East India Company the situation was dire. If the Patriots took power then British access to the Cape could be denied as contrary to French interests, and with that would go all access to their Asian trade. Sir Francis Baring, chairman of the East India Company, was quick to see the danger. He petitioned Henry Dundas, the British Secretary of State for War, for assistance. Great Britain sent a fleet of nine warships and one merchant ship to the Cape under Vice-Admiral Elphinstone. They were the:
* HMS America (64 guns)
* HMS Stately (64 guns)
* HMS Ruby (64 guns)
* HMS Monarch (74 guns)
* HMS Arrogant (74 guns)
* HMS Victorious (74 guns)
* HMS Sphinx (24 guns)
* HMS Rattlesnake (16 guns)
* HMS Echo (16 guns)
* Arniston (a merchant ship) Five were third-rate ships of the line: Monarch (74 guns), Victorious (74), Arrogant (74), America (64) and Stately (64); two were 16-gun sloops: Echo and Rattlesnake. The fleet left England 1 March, and in early June 1795, anchored in Simon's Bay. just east of the Cape. Elphinstone suggested to the Dutch governor that he place the Dutch Cape Colony under British protection - in effect, that he hand the colony over to Britain - which was refused. On 14 June 350 Royal Marines and 450 men of the 78th Highlanders occupied Simon's Town before the defenders could burn the town. However, the Dutch still held the surrounding area, with a force of militia at Muizenberg. From there, they could harass the British forces with artillery fire. Accordingly, the British resolved to make an infantry assault on the militia position. In addition to the 800 infantry already landed under the command of Major-General Craig, 1,000 sailors were disembarked from the fleet. These were formed into two battalions of five hundred men each, commanded by Commander Temple Hardy, captain of Echo, and Commander John William Spranger, captain of Rattlesnake. This made a total strength of about 1,800 men. Carronades were mounted in the ships' launches, to serve as close artillery.
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