 The Spanish involvement in the Jacobite rising of 1719 had seen Spanish troops land in Scotland where they were defeated at the Battle of Glen Shiel.A British force was prepared in retaliation with a strike against Spain.The expedition was under the overall command of Lord Cobham with the naval forces commanded by Vice Admiral James Mighels which included four ships - the 70-gun ship of the line , and three frigates - (42 guns), (36 guns) and (24 guns).