|
From The Past...
For millions of years a "monolithic Jurassic limestone
promontory" known as the Rock of Gibraltar has stood majestically guarding the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea.
Few, if any, other areas of land measuring a mere two and one half square miles can lay claim to having such a colourful and
controversial history as that of Gibraltar and what tales the rock would tell if only she could speak: Tales of
pirates, shipwrecks, sea battles, sieges and, more recently, protests to name but a few.
On 4th August 1704, during the War
of Spanish Succession, Britain captured Gibraltar fairly and squarely from Spain. In 1713, at
the end of the war, the Treaty of Utrecht was signed. Article 10 of the Treaty states that: "The Catholic King does hereby
for himself, his heirs and successors yield to the Crown of Great Britain the full and entire propriety of the Town and Castle
of Gibraltar, together with the port, fortifications and posts thereunto belonging and he gives up the said propriety, to
be held and enjoyed absolutely with all manner of right for ever, without exception or impediment whatsoever...and in case
it shall hereafter seem meet to the Crown of Great Britain to grant, sell or by any means to alienate there from the propriety
of the said town of Gibraltar, it is hereby agreed and concluded that the preference of having the same shall always be given
to the Crown of Spain before any other." However, since 1713, Spain has continually laid claims to Gibraltar,
despite it being ceded in perpetuity.
The terms of the Treaty of Utrecht were renewed in the Treaty
of Paris of 1763 and again in the Treaty of Versailles of 1783.
By the end of the 18th century
Gibraltar had become the principal British naval port in the Mediterranean. The arrival of the Fleet in May 1805 and
the sorrowful return of Admiral Lord Nelson's remains after his death at the Battle of Trafalgar five months later must, surely,
have been impressive sights.
Gibraltar's
Trafalgar Cemetery serves as an eternal reminder of that great sea battle, which raged a few miles up the coast, and contains,
amongst others, the graves of Lieutenants William Forster RM and Thomas Norman RN, both having died from wounds
received at Trafalgar.
In 1805 tragedy in the form of a yellow fever
epidemic struck Gibraltar killing over one third of the civilian population. A second epidemic struck ten years later. However,
by the end of the 19th century Gibraltar had prospered and become a British Crown Colony.
|
