The British Occupation of Manila 1762-1764
The surrender of Manila to the British forces 1762. From a section of Carlos "Botong" Francisco's murals on the history of Manila The Seven Years' War and Complex Alliances In the mid-1700s, Spain and Britain found themselves on opposing sides of the global conflict known as the Seven Years' War (1756–1763), driven by a web of intricate alliances. One significant outcome of this conflict in Asia was the British assault on Manila, spearheaded by a naval force under the command of William Draper. Despite their initial success in capturing the city of Manila, the British occupation was met with fierce resistance. The Real Audiencia of Manila, led by the determined Simon de Anda (honored today with the Anda Monument in Bonifacio Drive near Intramuros), retreated and continued to resist from outside the city, effectively limiting British control to Manila itself. The Seven Years' War was a vast and complex conflict that involved nearly all major European powers, pr