English victory at Ocho Rios secured continued occupation of Jamaica by repelling a Spanish attempt to reclaim the island in 1657.
Key Facts
- Date
- 30 October 1657
- English force size
- ~900 militia
- Spanish force size
- ~300 soldiers and ~100 militia/guerrillas
- English Governor
- General Edward D'Oyley
- Spanish commander
- Cristóbal Arnaldo Isasi
- Conflict
- Anglo-Spanish War of 1654–60
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
England had seized Jamaica from Spain in 1655, but disease severely reduced the occupying force. Former Spanish governor Cristóbal Arnaldo Isasi, sheltering in the hills with maroons, requested reinforcements from Cuba to retake the island, eventually assembling roughly 400 men who landed at Las Chorreras, present-day Ocho Rios.
Governor Edward D'Oyley, informed of Spanish ships off Jamaica's northern coast, sailed north with around 900 militia and landed near Ocho Rios. In a brief engagement close to Dunn's River Falls, D'Oyley's superior force defeated Isasi's combined Spanish and guerrilla contingent, with Isasi fleeing into the hills and the remaining Spanish troops captured.
The captured Spanish soldiers were repatriated to Cuba under agreed terms, consolidating English control of Jamaica. Isasi made a further attempt in 1658 at Rio Nuevo, this time aided by reinforcements from New Spain and a fortified position, but was again defeated by D'Oyley using the same tactical approach of sailing north to engage.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Edward D'Oyley.
Side B
1 belligerent
Cristóbal Arnaldo Isasi.