What was the motive?

A kind of manifest destiny & Canada seemed an easy target. It had a population of only 500,000 while the U.S. was home to 7.5 million, & GB was busy fighting France. Many Americans thought they would be welcome as liberators, because many living in Ontario were essentially Americans having crossed the border because land was plentiful. Former President Thomas Jefferson was quoted as saying "Acquiring Canada will be a mere matter of marching."

A huge blow to out prestige so early in the war. She was sunk in the "safety and security" of the Naval Base at Scapa Flow. The loss resulted in the construction of more secure defences known as the Churchill Barriers. 

16 April 1746 - The Battle of Culloden.

The last battle fought on British soil.

In December 1745 the Jacobite Army led by Prince Charles Stuart "Bonnie Prince Charlie" had advanced as far south as Derbyshire before turning back. Pursued by government troops the Scots were pushed steadily north until finally reaching Inverness in February. The King's men reached Aberdeen a few days later and both armies rested for the remainder of the winter. Only in April did Prince William, Duke of Cumberland march out for Inverness. The two met at Culloden a few miles east of the city. The Jacobites had around 5500 men to Cumberland's 7000. 

The battle opened with an artillery exchange of which the King's army gained the advantage before Charles gave the order to advance. The Scots' right flank and centre reached the English lines while the Scots' left failed to make contact. For a few minutes the Scots appeared to be gaining ground, but a cavalry charge by dragoons against their right ensured a victory for Cumberland. 

Prince Charles escaped and spent the summer pursued across Scotland before sailing back to France in September.   

What was the motive?

A kind of manifest destiny & Canada seemed an easy target. It had a population of only 500,000 while the U.S. was home to 7.5 million, & GB was busy fighting France. Many Americans thought they would be welcome as liberators, because many living in Ontario were essentially Americans having crossed the border because land was plentiful. Former President Thomas Jefferson was quoted as saying "Acquiring Canada will be a mere matter of marching."

How did that work out?

Not well. The U.S. Army was a ramshackle force of 7,000 men with incompetent officers. The recruits were raw & untrained. The Americans launched a three-pronged invasion across the Detroit River, the Niagara River, & Lake Champlain & failed at every juncture. By 1813, the American campaign had yielded "disaster, defeat, & disgrace." 

16 April 1746 - The Battle of Culloden.

The last battle fought on British soil.

In December 1745 the Jacobite Army led by Prince Charles Stuart "Bonnie Prince Charlie" had advanced as far south as Derbyshire before turning back. Pursued by government troops the Scots were pushed steadily north until finally reaching Inverness in February. The King's men reached Aberdeen a few days later and both armies rested for the remainder of the winter. Only in April did Prince William, Duke of Cumberland march out for Inverness. The two met at Culloden a few miles east of the city. The Jacobites had around 5500 men to Cumberland's 7000. 

The battle opened with an artillery exchange of which the King's army gained the advantage before Charles gave the order to advance. The Scots' right flank and centre reached the English lines while the Scots' left failed to make contact. For a few minutes the Scots appeared to be gaining ground, but a cavalry charge by dragoons against their right ensured a victory for Cumberland. 

Prince Charles escaped and spent the summer pursued across Scotland before sailing back to France in September.   

The Brits were fighting everyone back then, eh? Themselves, the Americans, the French, the Europeans, all in a matter of a few decades. 

A huge blow to out prestige so early in the war. She was sunk in the "safety and security" of the Naval Base at Scapa Flow. The loss resulted in the construction of more secure defences known as the Churchill Barriers. 

The skipper of U-47, Gunther Prien was feted by Hitler for sinking Royal Oak, but like most German submariners, he went to his watery grave in 1941.

17 April 1961 - The Bay of Pigs Incident.

How was it seen then by the US public and how is it viewed today?

I had to get out the Way Back Machine for this one.  I was a brand new teenager in 1961 and, looking back, the news people and the newspapers, dragged out the usual suspects that they do today:  Russia, threat of nuclear war, spread of communism.  I recently watched a program(mme) on the history channel here that brought in several government agencies and politicians but I didn't absorb it well.  Wasn't it around this time that the shoe banging incident between Kennedy and Kruschev took place and weren't they arguing about Cuba?

The spread of Communism to Cuba and its close links to the USSR plus of course its geographical proximity to the USA was the hot topic of the day. Apparently it was all organized under Eisenhower and dropped on Kennedy's desk with short notice. 

18/19 April 1775 - Paul Revere's Ride.

Not quite the solo effort legend would have us believe, neither did he shout "The British are coming" but an dramatic incident nevertheless. 

What was the motive?

A kind of manifest destiny & Canada seemed an easy target. It had a population of only 500,000 while the U.S. was home to 7.5 million, & GB was busy fighting France. Many Americans thought they would be welcome as liberators, because many living in Ontario were essentially Americans having crossed the border because land was plentiful. Former President Thomas Jefferson was quoted as saying "Acquiring Canada will be a mere matter of marching."

How did that work out?

Not well. The U.S. Army was a ramshackle force of 7,000 men with incompetent officers. The recruits were raw & untrained. The Americans launched a three-pronged invasion across the Detroit River, the Niagara River, & Lake Champlain & failed at every juncture. By 1813, the American campaign had yielded "disaster, defeat, & disgrace." 

Did U.S. situation improve?

Marginally. The Americans had some naval victories on the Great Lakes, & the Atlantic which bloodied the Brit's nose. To be beaten on the seas by these secondhand Englishmen was a tough pill to swallow. The Americans recaptured Detroit & burned York (Toronto) & several government buildings, but hampered by desertion, disease, hunger & exposure, made little other headway into Canada. In 1814 things took a turn for the worse when the British landed 4500 battle hardened reinforcements in Maryland. They marched to Washington, D.C. & burned the White House & other government buildings. The war at this time was basically a stalemate. Americans now realized that Canada was beyond their reach & the war would be defensive. Meanwhile the British were exhausted by more than a decade of war in Europe & North America, & eager to be done with it. 

19 April 1587 - The English Attack on Cádiz. "Singeing the King of Spain's Beard".

In the mid 1580s King Philip of Spain began assembling a huge armada at Lisbon and Cádiz for an invasion of England. Queen Elizabeth ordered Francis Drake, England's leading sailor, to inspect and if possible attack Spanish ships in the two ports. He set out with 24 vessels, many paid for by London merchants. 

On the evening of 19 April Drake appeared off Cádiz where he found nearly 100 ships, mostly, cargo vessels, laden with supplies ready to sail. Despite a number of Spanish galleons sailing out to tackle him and fire from onshore Drake's fleet sank more than 30 ships and captured four more without loss. 

He remained in the area patrolling the Spanish and Portuguese coasts for eight weeks continually harrying and disrupting Spanish trade forcing King Philip to call off the invasion for that year.    

At that time yes. The Royal Navy was actually quite small so was supplemented by merchant vessels paid for by the wealthy. Their ships were not actual warships but armed merchantmen that sailed with the larger ships. If they succeeded in making capturing any Spanish treasure they took a share of the profits. 

What was the motive?

A kind of manifest destiny & Canada seemed an easy target. It had a population of only 500,000 while the U.S. was home to 7.5 million, & GB was busy fighting France. Many Americans thought they would be welcome as liberators, because many living in Ontario were essentially Americans having crossed the border because land was plentiful. Former President Thomas Jefferson was quoted as saying "Acquiring Canada will be a mere matter of marching."

How did that work out?

Not well. The U.S. Army was a ramshackle force of 7,000 men with incompetent officers. The recruits were raw & untrained. The Americans launched a three-pronged invasion across the Detroit River, the Niagara River, & Lake Champlain & failed at every juncture. By 1813, the American campaign had yielded "disaster, defeat, & disgrace." 

Did U.S. situation improve?

Marginally. The Americans had some naval victories on the Great Lakes, & the Atlantic which bloodied the Brit's nose. To be beaten on the seas by these secondhand Englishmen was a tough pill to swallow. The Americans recaptured Detroit & burned York (Toronto) & several government buildings, but hampered by desertion, disease, hunger & exposure, made little other headway into Canada. In 1814 things took a turn for the worse when the British landed 4500 battle hardened reinforcements in Maryland. They marched to Washington, D.C. & burned the White House & other government buildings. The war at this time was basically a stalemate. Americans now realized that Canada was beyond their reach & the war would be defensive. Meanwhile the British were exhausted by more than a decade of war in Europe & North America, & eager to be done with it. 

How did the war end?

With a treaty signed in Ghent, now part of Belgium, on Christmas Eve, 1814. It restored the prewar northern borders, with both sides surrendering conquered territory. The maritime issues that had ignited the war weren't even mentioned in the treaty and a major American victory was still to come. Unaware a peace deal had been struck, on January 8, 1815, the Battle of New Orleans took place. General Andrew Jackson became a national hero, and in 1829, the seventh president. 

At that time yes. The Royal Navy was actually quite small so was supplemented by merchant vessels paid for by the wealthy. Their ships were not actual warships but armed merchantmen that sailed with the larger ships. If they succeeded in making capturing any Spanish treasure they took a share of the profits. 

You just described pirates in the politest terms I've ever heard.

At that time yes. The Royal Navy was actually quite small so was supplemented by merchant vessels paid for by the wealthy. Their ships were not actual warships but armed merchantmen that sailed with the larger ships. If they succeeded in making capturing any Spanish treasure they took a share of the profits. 

You just described pirates in the politest terms I've ever heard.

Now Shula, don't be so picayune. They were only pirates when they stopped paying tribute to Mother Britain. Before that they were privateers. 

A subtle but vital distinction.