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<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-26/general-sir-william-draper.avif" alt="General Sir William Draper" loading="lazy" />
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(Portrait of General Sir William Draper, ca. 1765, Thomas Gainsborough.  Source: <a href="https://www.famsf.org/artworks/portrait-of-major-general-sir-william-draper" class="news-link-ext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">https://www.famsf.org</a>)
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<h2>
Early Military Career
</h2>
<p>
Draper's military career began during the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Austrian_Succession" class="news-link-ext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">War of Austrian Succession</a>, where he served at the Battle of Culloden in 1746 and later in Flanders. He subsequently became lieutenant and captain in the 1st Foot Guards in 1749. In November 1757, during the Seven Years' War, Draper was commissioned as lieutenant-colonel commandant to raise a new regiment of foot, which became known as the 79th Regiment of Foot, also called Draper's Regiment. The regiment was formed at Colchester, partly from companies drafted from the 4th, 8th, and 24th foot regiments, and was designated for service in the East Indies.
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<h2>
The Manila Expedition: Planning and Preparation
</h2>
<p>
When Spain entered the Seven Years' War on the side of France in January 1762, Britain moved swiftly to strike at Spanish colonial possessions. Colonel William Draper, then stationed in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennai" class="news-link-ext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Madras</a> (now Chennai) with the British  <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_India_Company" class="news-link-ext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">East India Company</a>, developed an ambitious plan to capture Manila, the capital of the Spanish Philippines and one of the most important trading cities in Asia. The British Cabinet, led by <b class="lt-bold">Prime Minister John Stuart</b>, approved Draper's scheme on January 6, 1762, recognizing that capturing Manila would severely damage Spanish commerce and expand British mercantile influence in the region.
</p>
<p>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_III" class="news-link-ext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">King George III</a> personally signed the instructions permitting Draper to implement his plan. The strategic objective was clear: Manila was described as "the greatest Spanish fortress in the western Pacific", and its capture would give Britain control of a crucial trading hub, particularly for commerce with China. Draper was promoted to Brigadier General for this expedition.
</p>
<h2>
The Invasion Force
</h2>
<p>
Draper arrived in Madras in June 1762 to organize the expeditionary force. The East India Company released the 79th Regiment for the expedition, along with a company of Royal Artillery and a company of the East India Company's artillery. Draper assembled a diverse multinational force of approximately 2,000 men consisting of soldiers from the 79th Regiment, 600 Indian <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepoy" class="news-link-ext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">sepoys</a>, and irregulars of various nationalities, including two companies of French deserters. Several hundred <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lascar" class="news-link-ext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">lascars</a> were recruited to provide carrying and labouring resources, as no four-legged transport could be taken.
</p>
<p>
The naval component was commanded by <b class="lt-bold">Rear Admiral Sir Samuel Cornish</b>, 1st Baronet, whose flagship was HMS Norfolk. The fleet comprised an impressive armada: eight ships of the line (Elizabeth, Lenox, Grafton, Weymouth, America, Panther, and Falmouth), three frigates (Argo, Seahorse, and Seaford), and four store ships. The total force, including regulars, sailors, and marines, numbered 6,839 men.
</p>
<p>
The invasion fleet sailed from India in two groups - the first departing on July 21 and the remainder under Admiral Cornish following on August 1, 1762. HMS Seahorse was sent ahead to intercept Manila-bound vessels.
</p>
<h2>
The Battle of Manila
</h2>
<p>
Admiral Cornish's fleet anchored in Manila Bay on September 23, 1762 (some sources say September 24). The Spanish defenders were caught completely unprepared, having received no warning of the British approach. The Spanish garrison consisted of approximately 800 soldiers from the Regiment of the Marquis de Villa Medina, Spanish marines, artillery forces, and around 10,000 Filipino troops, primarily Pampangos.
</p>
<p>
The absence of a proper civil governor further weakened Spanish defenses. The previous governor had died, and his replacement had not yet arrived, leaving Archbishop <a href="/articles/2997/governor-general-manuel-rojo-del-r-o-was-born-on-september-24-1708-in-tula-mexico" class="news_link">Manuel Antonio Rojo del Rio y Vieyra</a>, a clergyman with no military experience, serving as acting Governor-General.
</p>
<p>
On September 24, 1762, Draper led the amphibious landing approximately two miles south of the city. The landing force of 274 marines was organized in three prongs: Colonel Draper commanded the center, Major More led the right, and Colonel Monson took the left. Three British frigates - HMS Argo, HMS Seahorse, and HMS Seaford - provided covering bombardment that dispersed Spanish troops assembled on the coast. Despite heavy surf that filled all the longboats with water and damaged weapons and ammunition, the landing was successfully accomplished without significant opposition.
</p>
<p>
The British quickly established their positions, capturing Fort Polverina on September 25. Reconnaissance revealed that Manila's fortifications were incomplete and vulnerable: <b class="lt-bold">"In many places the ditch had never been finished, the covered way was out of repair, the glacis was too low, some of the outworks were without cannon"</b>. General Draper established his headquarters at a large church called the Hermita, about 900 yards from the city.
</p>
<p>
The British faced constant skirmishing from Filipino defenders who fired arrows and attempted to cut off small groups of British soldiers. Weather conditions were extremely challenging - it rained for much of the siege, making conditions in the camps and siege works unpleasant and difficult. Strong winds from the southwest created heavy surf that made it impossible to use small boats for extended periods and endangered the ships of the fleet.
</p>
<p>
On October 4, 1762, a force of 1,000 Pampangos launched a major attack on a British cantonment but were beaten back with approximately 300 casualties. Following this defeat, all except about 1,800 Pampangos abandoned the city, significantly weakening the Spanish defense.
</p>


<h2>
The Fall of Manila
</h2>
<p>
By October 5, the British had successfully breached the walls of the Bastion of San Diego through heavy artillery bombardment. The British batteries had fired more than 5,000 bombs and over 20,000 cannonballs at the city. The pioneers had emptied the water in the ditch, dismounted the cannons of the bastion and two adjoining bastions (San Andes and San Eugeno), and set fire to parts of the town, driving Spanish forces from the walls.
</p>
<p>
On the night of October 5, the Spanish military persuaded Archbishop Rojo to summon a council of war to discuss surrender. At dawn on October 6, 1762, British forces launched their final assault. Lieutenant Russell of the 79th Regiment led 60 volunteers through the breach in the Bastion of San Diego, followed by grenadiers, engineers and pioneers, then Colonel Monson and Major More with men from the 79th, seamen, and additional troops from the 79th. The East India Company's troops brought up the rear.
</p>
<p>
The assault met little resistance, except at the Royal Gate where 180 Spanish and Filipino defenders refused to surrender and were "put to the sword". The British force quickly secured each of the bastions in the city's wall and the important parts of the city. Some resistance came from soldiers in the upper stories of houses in the Grand Square, but otherwise the Marquis de Villa Medina, his officers, soldiers, and the remaining Filipino troops surrendered.
</p>
<p>
During the siege, Spanish forces lost three officers, two sergeants, 50 troops of the line, and 30 civilians of the militia, besides many wounded. Among Filipino defenders, approximately 300 were killed and 400 wounded. The British suffered 147 killed and wounded, of whom sixteen were officers. Major More was killed near the Royal Gate, shot by an arrow. About 30 British soldiers were killed in the final assault.
</p>
<h2>
The Capitulation and Its Aftermath
</h2>
<p>
Following the successful assault, Admiral Cornish and General Draper met with Archbishop Rojo and his senior officers to negotiate terms. A capitulation agreement was reached whereby Manila, Cavite, and the other islands and forts immediately dependent on the city were surrendered to the British. Crucially, the agreement included a ransom payment of four million Spanish dollars (approximately £1 million) to prevent further sacking of the city.
</p>
<p>
However, the surrender did not prevent widespread looting. Archbishop Rojo later wrote that the looting lasted for more than 30 hours, perpetrated by British soldiers as well as Spanish, Chinese, and Filipino residents. Rojo described how the city was completely looted, including churches and even parts of the palace. General Draper attempted to stop the looting but was unable to control his troops.
</p>
<h2>
The British Occupation (1762-1764)
</h2>
<p>
Following the capture of Manila, the East India Company appointed <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawsonne_Drake" class="news-link-ext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Dawsonne Drake</a> as Civil Governor of the colony on November 2, 1762. Drake led the Manila Council, assisted by Claud Russell and Samuel Johnson, with Major Fell commanding the garrison. General Draper, having secured the military victory, turned over administrative responsibilities to the civilian government.
</p>
<p>
The British occupation proved far more challenging than the initial conquest. Spanish resistance continued under the leadership of Don <a href="/articles/3274/how-simon-de-anda-defended-manila-from-the-british" class="news_link">Simón de Anda y Salazar</a>, an Oidor (judge) of the Royal Audiencia of Manila who had escaped from the city on the night of October 5 with much of the treasury and official documents. Anda established a provisional Spanish colonial government and raised an army in Bulacan (later Pampanga), assuming full authority on behalf of the Real Audiencia. He rejected Archbishop Rojo's surrender as illegal and continued military campaigns against the British.
</p>
<p>
Anda refused to acknowledge British authority, returning unopened all letters that did not address him as Governor-General of the Philippines - something the British refused to do until Archbishop Rojo's death on January 30, 1764. His strategy focused on isolating the British forces in Manila and Intramuros, cutting off their supply lines. By December 1762, acute food shortages plagued Manila, with one Spanish priest observing "no beef in the butcher shop, not even for the English governor".
</p>
<p>
The British found themselves confined to Manila and Cavite in a deteriorating military situation. They were unable to extend British control over the rest of the archipelago and could not provide the promised support for indigenous uprisings against Spanish rule. <a href="Diego Silang" class="news_link">Diego Silang</a> led a revolt in the Ilocos region, allying with the British and receiving appointment as governor of Ilocos. However, following Silang's assassination in May 1763, his wife <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1023/today-in-philippine-history-march-19-1723-josefa-gabriela-silang-was-born-in-santa-ilocos-sur" class="news_link">Gabriela Cariño Silang</a> continued the uprising until Spanish forces ultimately crushed it. A similar uprising led by <b class="lt-bold">Juan de la Cruz Palaris</b> in Pangasinan was also defeated.
</p>
<p>
Spanish and Filipino loyalist forces employed scorched earth tactics, burning towns and farms to eliminate sources of supply for the British. Both sides engaged in destructive warfare that took a severe toll on the civilian population and cultural heritage of the Philippines.
</p>
<p>
Governor Dawsonne Drake's administration was marked by controversy and scandal. He demanded payment of the ransom and established a special court to imprison Manila residents on unclear charges when payment was not forthcoming. Only one quarter of the four million dollar ransom was ultimately paid by the time the British departed. Drake was also accused of extortion, particularly from the Chinese community. Upon his return to Madras in April 1766, the Madras Council tried him on criminal charges including extortion and <b class="lt-bold">"abusing his authority to extort money from anyone who came into his power"</b>. He was found guilty and dismissed from the Council at Fort St. George on December 2, 1767, though this sentence was later modified.
</p>
<h2>
Financial Rewards and Strategic Gains
</h2>
<p>
Despite the administrative difficulties, the British expedition proved highly lucrative for its military commanders. Shortly after capturing Manila, British forces seized two Spanish treasure ships laden with extraordinary wealth. The treasure ship Filipina, carrying American silver from Acapulco, was captured, as was the magnificent galleon Santísima Trinidad.
</p>
<p>
The Santísima Trinidad was a massive vessel constructed in 1750 at Bagatao Island in Manila, armed with 60 guns and recognized as the largest Manila galleon ever built. On September 3, 1762, the Trinidad had departed Cavite for Acapulco carrying a valuable cargo of Chinese porcelain and other goods. After being damaged by a storm that brought down its fore and mainmasts, the ship attempted to return to Cavite under a jury rig, unaware that Manila had fallen to the British.
</p>
<p>
On October 30, 1762, HMS Panther under Captain Hyde Parker and the frigate HMS Argo under Captain Richard King captured the Trinidad in the San Bernardino Strait. The ship's cargo alone was valued at $1.5 million, and the vessel itself was worth $3 million. This capture, combined with the Filipina's treasure, made both Admiral Cornish and General Draper wealthy men - "to such an extent that they could retire back home on the prize money alone".
</p>
<h2>
The Treaty of Paris and British Withdrawal
</h2>
<p>
The <time datetime="1763-02-10">Treaty of Paris, signed on February 10, 1763</time>, formally ended the Seven Years' War between Britain, France, and Spain. News of Manila's capture arrived too late to affect the treaty negotiations, as the parties in Europe were unaware of the British success when the treaty was signed. Under the treaty's terms, Britain was required to return Manila to Spain.
</p>
<p>
In March 1764, orders arrived from both the King of Britain and the King of Spain, brought by the Spanish governor designate Brigadier Don Francisco de la Torre, requiring the handover of the city to Spain. British Governor Drake, facing charges of culpability, resigned and left the Philippines on March 29, 1764. The Manila Council elected Alexander Dalrymple as governor the same day, but the Manila garrison refused to obey him.
</p>
<p>
On <a href="/kauswagan/articles/1812/may-31-1764-the-spaniards-took-back-manila-from-the-british-following-the-signing-of-peace-treaty-at-paris" class="news_link">May 31, 1764, the British garrison formally exited Manila</a> and embarked for home. Spanish troops led by Simón de Anda y Salazar re-entered Manila and took back possession of the city, restoring full Spanish colonial rule. <b class="lt-bold">The British occupation had lasted approximately 18 to 20 months.</b>
</p>
<h2>
Recognition and Honors
</h2>
<p>
Parliament formally thanked Draper and Cornish on April 19, 1763, for their successful expedition. Admiral Cornish was made a Baronet of Great Britain. General Draper eventually received a Knighthood of the Bath (KB) in December 1765, though the honor came after considerable delay. According to Draper's own account, King George III had promised him "the first vacant red ribbon" as a reward for planning and commanding the Manila expedition, but Draper waived his claim to accommodate Lord Clive, who was embarking on important service in Bengal. Multiple subsequent ministers - including the Duke of Bedford, Mr. Grenville, the Duke of Grafton, and Lord Rockingham - all confirmed that Draper deserved the honor.
</p>
<p>
Draper commissioned the renowned portraitist Thomas Gainsborough to paint his portrait commemorating his receipt of the Order of Bath, whose decoration is prominently displayed on his left breast in the painting. The portrait was completed around 1765 and is now held in the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
</p>
<p>
Upon the reduction of the 79th Foot Regiment after the war, King George III gave Draper command of the 16th Regiment of Foot as an equivalent. Draper used his wealth from the Manila expedition to build a new residence in Clifton, Bristol, which he named Manila Hall. The house was constructed around 1770 and featured treasures from the Philippines, allegedly including the <b class="lt-bold">Niño Dormido</b>, a sleeping ivory Christ child sculpture that was later auctioned at Christie's.
</p>
<p>
In the garden of Manila Hall, Draper erected a monument to the "departed warriors" of the 79th Regiment - a cenotaph in the form of a classical sarcophagus topped by an urn. This memorial, created in 1797 and attributed to designer Thomas Paty or a member of his family, is reputed to be the oldest war memorial in Britain. When Manila Hall and its grounds were redeveloped in 1883, the monument was moved to Clifton Down in Bristol, where it stands today alongside a second monument from Draper's garden - an obelisk dedicated to William Pitt the Elder.
</p>
<h2>
The Manila Ransom Controversy
</h2>
<p>
The most enduring controversy of Draper's career involved the unpaid Manila ransom. The Spanish government refused to honor the bond for £1 million provided under the capitulation agreement. Spain claimed that Archbishop Rojo was an unauthorized agent and that Draper had broken the terms of the agreement. The timing of Manila's capture - just before the Treaty of Paris - meant the British returned the city with minimal diplomatic leverage gained.
</p>
<p>
Draper spent many years pursuing this issue with the British government, publishing pamphlets to pressure authorities to collect on his behalf. In his tract "Draper's Answer to the Spanish Arguments, Claiming the Galeon and Refusing Payment of the Ransom," Draper presented a bilingual summary of the Spanish ambassador's grounds for non-compliance, extracts from the treaty, his refutation of Spanish claims, and the original English language treaty signed in Manila. However, with hostilities over and British attention occupied by other foreign ventures, particularly the growing crisis in America, the British government was in no position to insist on payment. The suit was eventually abandoned.
</p>
<p>
This financial disappointment cast a shadow over what was otherwise considered one of Draper's greatest achievements. The failed ransom collection meant that Draper did not receive the financial windfall he had expected, though the prize money from captured treasure ships provided substantial compensation.
</p>


General William Draper: British Conquest of Manila in 1762