Britain, Portugal and South America in the Napoleonic Wars

Martin Robson is a Permanent Visiting Fellow at the Corbett Centre for Maritime Policy Studies and an Honorary Fellow of the University of Exeter.

'This book places the Anglo-Portuguese origins of the Peninsular War in the widest context. By integrating the need to secure trade routes, adapt strategy, bolster diplomacy and conduct effective military operations, Martin Robson provides a critical new interpretation of the conflict, one which emphasises the emergence of a new 'British' strategy in the period after 1806. His work stresses the expeditionary character of British strategy, and the use of maritime power to secure national interests. This book will be of great importance to historians of the Peninsular Conflict, Anglo-Portuguese relations and the development of British strategy.' - Andrew Lambert, Laughton Professor of Naval History, King's College London

• Introduction 1 British War Aims2 The Importance of Portugal and Latin America Part One: The Ministry of All the Talents 3 The Portuguese Crisis of 1806 4 The Rosslyn Mission to Lisbon 5 The Talents and South America Part Two: The Portland Administration 6 The Strategy of the Portland Government 7 The Portuguese Crisis of 1807 8 British Naval Intervention 9 The Crisis Resolved 10 The blockade of Lisbon 11 The Portland Administration and South America in 1808 12 The Spanish insurrection and British policy Conclusion