The
War of Jenkins' Ear, also known as
King George's war was a conflict between
Great Britain and
Spain that lasted from
1739 to
1742. Britain declared war on Spain after hearing reports of the mistreatment of English seamen by Spain (who accused the seamen of smuggling). Most notably, Robert Jenkins, captain of the ship
Rebecca, exhibited his severed ear to the
British House of Commons and claimed that Spanish coast guards had cut it off - hence the name of the conflict. The British Prime Minister,
Robert Walpole, then reluctantly declared war on
October 23,
1739.
The War of Jenkins' Ear would later merge into the War of Austrian Succession.