Jenkins Ear Day

Jenkins Ear Day is an annual British holiday dedicated to the incident involving Jenkins’ Ear, which even led to a war in the 18th century between Spain and England. It’s a very interesting story that we are excited to share with you. The holiday is celebrated on April 9.

History

The story of Jenkins Ear Day begins in April 1731, when Captain Robert Jenkins’ English ship was attacked by a Spanish naval brigade under the command of privateer Juan de León Fandiño. The Spanish forces conducted a search, seized valuables, and, in a brutal act, cut off Captain Jenkins’ ear. The ear was placed in a bottle of liquor to preserve it, and the Spaniards told Jenkins to deliver a message to the English king: if his subjects continued to plunder and attack Spanish ships, they would face the same fate.

In 1738, Jenkins appeared before the British House of Commons, presenting his severed ear as evidence. English society was shocked by the brutality of the incident. Although there were attempts at diplomatic resolution between the two countries, they were largely unsuccessful. As a result, in late 1739, war broke out between Spain and England, commonly referred to as the “War of Jenkins’ Ear” by historians. In reality, the conflict was more about control of markets in Spanish America, but the ear incident contributed to the outbreak of military hostilities.

Interesting Facts

• The main theater of military action during the War of Jenkins’ Ear was the Caribbean Sea.
• The War of Jenkins’ Ear ended in 1748 with the signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (also known as the Second Peace of Aachen).

How to Celebrate

Learn more about the course of the War of Jenkins’ Ear and the outcome of the conflict. Visit museums for historical information about the period.

Share information about the holiday on social media. Ask others what they know about this Spanish-English conflict.

When is Jenkins Ear Day in 2025?

Jenkins Ear Day is observed on April 9 each year.

Observations