American Experience in the West Indies, 1740-1742

Thirty-five years before the battles of Lexington  and Concord, the British colonies in North America raised a regiment to serve in the British Army for an expedition to seize control of the Spanish West Indies.

Colonial volunteers, 4,000 strong, joined 9,000 British soldiers and 15,000 British sailors in a bold amphibious campaign against the key port of Cartagena de Indias.  The expedition marked the first time American soldiers deployed overseas.

The Fraunces Tavern Museum will host “The American Experience in the West Indies, 1740-1742,” a lecture by Disaster on the Spanish Main (Univ. of Nebraska, 2021) author Craig Chapman set for Thursday, June 16th. In this lecture, Chapman will discuss the Americans’ role in the conflict, their terrible suffering, and the awful results of the expedition.

This lecture will begin at 6:30 pm, and will be held both in person and virtually via Zoom. Registration ends at 5:30 pm on the day of the lecture. Admission is $5 for in person attendance, free for members, and free for virtual attendance.

For more information or to register, click here.