The Prize of All the Oceans: Commodore Anson's Daring Voyage and Triumphant Capture of the Spanish Treasure Galleon

by Glyn Williams

The action-packed true story of Commodore Anson's legendary 1740 mission to capture a Spanish galleon on the high seas chronicles the British officer's subsequent disastrous campaign that resulted mutiny, starvation, and heroism. Reprint..

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Naval History, Adventure, Nautical, British Literature

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 18, 1999

About the author

Professor Glyn Williams is a distinguished naval historian and professor emeritus at Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London. He has been president of the Hakluyt Society and general editor of the records of the Hudson's Bay Company, and has published several volumes on the relationship between the HBC and the exploration of the Canadian Arctic and the Subarctic.
He lives in West Malling, Kent.

Also publishes under the name Glyndwyr Williams .

Reviews

[Darrel · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one should be apprehensive to read this excellently written narrative of a little known piece of maritime history. I hadn't heard of George Anson, the Spanish Treasure Galleon or any other of the details that are covered in this book. My interest was piqued after having briefly read portions of the opening chapters while in a bookstore. It made an immediate impact on me and so I quite naturally added this to my reading list. Someone surprised me at work a few short months later by bringing this in for me to read. It took me only a few days to absorb this harrowing and dramatic British naval tale; in fact I was actually upset that it was so short a read!

Filled with high adventure, heroic journeys, unconscionable suffering and considerable heartbreak 'Prize' is gripping to the very end. Each of the seven ships in the squadron has a story worth recounting and Williams manages to fit each ships' tale within his book. My personal favorite portion of 'Prize' is the chapter titled "The Missing Ships" which details the loss of three of them, and in particular I found the story of the Wager the most compelling. If the author had only taken to tell the saga of this singular ship and it's crew and miseries it would have been worth reading for it alone. Their story of shipwreck, survival, mutiny and reclamation is of mythical proportions but incredibly it is all too true.

Eminently readable Williams has crafted a terrifying account of a naval squadron of British ships hopelessly undermanned, ravaged by disease and starvation and beaten severely by incredible sea storms, that somehow defy all odds and manage to accomplish their lofty and seemingly out of reach goal. Though the cost is high - Anson loses nearly two-thirds of the crew - the author prevents us from becoming one-dimensional in our thinking and keeps us intrigued through his expert analysis and interpretation of all the historical documents still in existence. Williams was even fortunate to have uncovered a diary kept by one of the squadron's officers that helped to illuminate some areas of contention that had long been a source of squabbling among historians.

Twenty years in the making, 'The Prize Of All The Oceans' is a book that will thrill any reader and live in their imagination long after they have finished it.

[Alex Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Prize of All the Oceans" is a remarkable research of George Anson's voyage around the world from 1740 to 1744 written by Dr. Glyndwr Williams, who has spent almost 40 years researching the material for his book. During this time, he has also written an introduction to a 1974 Oxford edition of "A Voyage round the World in the Years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV by George Anson," which has dramatically summarized the main point he was going to make in his future work.
The book aims to retell a complete story of George Anson's voyage, which was aimed towards the Acapulco (Manilla) Galleon's treasure, which was also known as "The Prize of All the Oceans." While still being in the state of war with Spain, for England, this was an incredible prize; however, if the expedition succeeded, the prize could have been worth around 2,000,000 pounds, which would have justified a risk for an expedition. Commodore George Anson was selected as the person who would lead the expedition; his orders were to make the Spanish Americans rebel against their empire and destroy their towns and shipping, which was almost impossible to fulfill. Anson has also had eight vessels in his command: Centurion, Wager, Gloucester, Pearl, Severn, Tryal, Anna, and Industry. His ships, however, had horrible problems with men and supplies, as out of more than 1900 men, more than 500 were "invalids," -- the old, disabled, and sick, as well as they could barely sail; for the supplement of these men, many resources would have been needed. To such problems, another major one added, as the Spanish knew about Anson's expedition, and it was no secret to them. With such conditions, the mission can be considered suicidal.
However, the greatest danger to the travelers was not the Spanish divisions, but something neutral – diseases. Anson's squadron had to suffer from many of them, amongst which were typhus, dysentery, malaria (which was caught on St Catherine's, an island off the coast of Brazil), and, most importantly – scurvy. Scurvy can be considered the leading "killer" of Anson's squadron, as nearly everyone has suffered from it, even Anson himself. Furthermore, the surgeons on the ship suggested using citrus and lemon juice to heal scurvy, yet such provisions were unobtainable. The main symptoms of scurvy were large spots and ulcers over the body, as well as rotting flesh, swollen legs, and putrid gums. After the end of the voyage, a dramatic increase in the study of scurvy occurred, as many doctors began to investigate it, such as Dr. James Lind. He published "Treatise of Scurvy" in the year 1753, which he dedicated to Anson. Furthermore, it was only after the voyage when it was found that scurvy was caused by lack of vitamin C, which sounds reasonable, since the seamen had no fruits and vegetables, as their diet mainly consisted of salt meat; furthermore, a lot of the people who got scurvy were primarily old men, while the young escaped the consequences of scurvy due to having better body stores of vitamin C. According to Glyn Williams, most historians also note that Vitamin C deficiency was not the only problem, as the seamen struggled from multiple deficiencies of various sorts of vitamins.
First signs of relief for the squadron were seen when The Centurion, The Tryal, and The Gloucester boarded on the island of Juan Fernandez after passing around Cape Horn. Weakened from sickness and death, it was an immense task to board most of the ships. However, while staying on the island, crews have found themselves "fresh air and fresh provisions", such as sea lions, which provided people with meat they had almost run out of. Anson lost from 70 to 80 men due to miscalculation upon the arrival, as he arrived late; however, such miscalculation helped him miraculously evade the Spaniards waiting for his crew there, as they had given up the wait just days before Anson's arrival.
Only Centurion returned to England in the end out of the eight ships in the beginning. The ships Severn and Pearl have almost entirely run out of men, as well as they have lost track of the course, so they returned home to England. The ship Wager wrecked in 1741. The accounts of those who have survived it portray the horrors which have happened as many people could not get off the ship due to being either drunk or sick, as well as the ones who got off it (around 100 people) were left to struggle from hunger and the local "Civil War," as the group of survivors was divided into three: those loyal to captain, disloyal to him and the deserters. The official accounts tell stories of people dying from hunger and those finding food either selling it or receiving bare skin to eat. Some men, such as Isaac Morris, documented their passage home, as most were split into even smaller groups to find their way home. For Morris, such a way was one of the harshest ones, as he had to go through being enslaved, kept a prisoner of war, and living in constant fear of being found and killed by Indians. He has successfully reached England with his companions in the year 1746. In the end, only 29 crew members of Wager survived. The ship Gloucester was lost during the voyage from Acapulco into the Pacific. The men on the ship ran out of water and food. Most people were weak from scurvy, so the ship was unstable and could not be kept "alive" anymore. Gloucester was burned with the remainders of the sick and dying crew on board, while the survivors got on board the Centurion, which was since the only vessel left to continue the voyage. The Tryal and the Tryal Prize were sunk in the Pacific due to similar reasons. Sadly, I could not find the information regarding the loss of ships Anna and Industry in the book.
However, despite the horrors Anson's crew experienced, he has never unleashed cruelty upon the prisoners he had taken on board. An example could be seen after the defeats of Spanish ships Arranzazu and Santa Teresa de Jesus, prisoners of which were kept in good and humane conditions. Some Spaniards even justified his burning of the town Paita, as they have seen in it a response to the negative behavior towards his crew, as well as the prisoners he has taken from it were treated with kindness afterward. Anson has further released almost all of the Spanish prisoners at Acapulco, as he has only kept the strongest and the ones he found helpful in his voyage. The humanity of Anson was also seen in how he treated his men. For example, when the crew of the only remaining ship Centurion shored on the island of Tinian, Anson himself was among the ones that helped the sick be relieved, as he literally "squeezed the juice into the mouths of those with worst symptoms." As well as that, while being weakened by scurvy when on Tinian, Anson has gone ashore, proving his devotion to his men and the expedition. Anson further proved his humanity by dividing the final prize achieved with the survivors of the destroyed ships such as Tryal and Gloucester. He made sure they got what they deserved, despite the protests of many of the crew members.
Further problems awaited Anson's crew at the Portuguese colony of Macao, which the Chinese completely controlled, as they could starve the colony to death at their will. Captain sought the Centurion to be repaired and refitted, which all came at the cost of a long wait. With it also came the disturbance caused by the lack of knowledge regarding the loss of ships such as the Wager (page 151). However, the Macao colony allowed for the Centurion to gain some resources. It allowed for the seamen to write letters regarding their well-being to their families. The ship was eventually fixed and headed out on the 19th of April, 1743.
Despite all the crew's difficulties, they finally sighted the Acapulco galleon "Nuestra Senora de Covadonga" on the 19th of June 1743 and attacked it. Despite the lack of men on Centurion and the fierce fighting of the Spanish, the galleon's crew was defeated due to Spaniards starting to panic and the help of the prisoners aboard the Centurion, who helped seize the treasure and fight the enemies. The Centurion also outmatched the galleon by the number of guns, as it had 60 guns, while the Nuestra Senora de Covadonga had 44 onboard. The Centurion also got damaged, as it was on fire, although the damage was later fixed. The results were outstanding, as the captured treasure was one of the most valuable yet seized by an English ship. To that, the Centurion did not have high casualties, as it lost only three men, while the Spanish lost 67 and their ship. Anson and his men's struggles have finally proved themselves.
Anson's last disturbances before arrival awaited him after shoring at the town of Canton, which was under the control of the Chinese. The town was neutral and was heavily relied on the trade with various countries, for which purposes Anson's crew shored there for refit. Nevertheless, Anson still prepared the Centurion for action. Commodore refused to pay duties for the stay, as he has negotiated to free some of the prisoners to go to Macao in exchange, to which the Chinese agreed. The main issue was the talks with the viceroy regarding a request for permission to take on board provisions and stores; although different accounts interpret that situation contradictory, the viceroy agreed to it. Overall, the problem of Anson's stay was one of the reasons that led to the future Opium Wars, as his unfriendly behavior and willingness to turn to force (as the Centurion was much stronger than any Chinese ship) played a role in destabilizing the future relationships between England and China. (last page of the chapter)
Finally, on the 15th of June, 1744, the Centurion arrived in Spithead, England, after sailing under South Africa. Out of more than 1900 men originally on board, only 188 survived. Despite that, these survivors were awaited with great prizes upon their arrival. The people celebratedly welcomed them, especially Anson, as he was now considered a national hero. The price of the treasures brought was assumed to range from 500,000 to 1,250,000 pounds. Anson was promoted to Admiral and was considered on the same line with such heroes as Ulysses or Sir Francis Drake (page 206). However, for the crew, the times were not so good, as some of them were robbed and killed after the prize was distributed. Despite the men's struggles, many survivors have earned a profit and a happy life from the voyage. Furthermore, many accounts of the voyage were later published, immediately pirated, and many were considered best-sellers.
After finishing the book, one might find it engaging and exciting, especially if the reader does not know or has not heard about George Anson’s journey. However, some people may be skeptical at first, regarding George Anson's portrayal, as after learning about the biographies of such people like Sir Francis Drake, one might conclude that most of the commanders in the British Empire were fearless killers. Such people are primarily skeptical reading books such as "The Secret Voyage of Sir Francis Drake" by Samuel Bawlf, which has portrayed Drake as an angel rather than a person that pillaged villages and killed people. However, after reading various critiques of Glyn Williams's book, it can be found that none of them contain any arguments regarding the author’s portrayal of Lord Anson. Furthermore, a person who would research the topic further and read accounts of those on the voyage and various other researches of Anson’s journey can find that most of the crew and historians regard Anson as a man committed to his job and loyal to his men.
Despite the book being engaging, some people might find it hard to read at times because of the unknown vocabulary that the general audience can encounter, as it has no explanation (such as "fathom," and "oakum."), which could lead some readers to additional research. Furthermore, despite the book featuring various maps and illustrations, some of the locations that Williams mentioned might confuse the reader, as some of the locations cannot even be found on the internet due to their names being changed, such as the town Canton. Moreover, as it was already stated above, the research does not provide information about the loss of Anna and Industry supply ships, which can lead one to question what happened to them and additional research.
To that, one might conclude that the research should have well exceeded 235 pages for the voyage of such caliber. Such events as the wreck of the Wager should have gotten their separate chapters. As Williams states, from the Wager alone, there was a "flurry of books" when the 29 survivors arrived back to England, which the writer, sadly, only summarizes on the surface level. For example, he does not mention what the team of Isaac Morris had to go through in detail, as he states that they have had to experience "extremes of human behaviour in adversity," but he only describes some of those extremes. Upon reading the account of Isaac Morris, one might discover that Morris and his mates have discovered puppy nests, some of which they ate until they realized how profitable such puppies were, as the team could have used them for hunting, although they still ate some along their journey . Furthermore, it can be found from John Bulkeley and John Cummins' account what the Wager's crew had to go through in much more detail. When seamen were leaving the wrecked Wager, Glyn Williams takes into account Alex Campbell's words regarding the disorder happening on the ship: "Some were singing Psalms, others fighting, others swearing, and some lay drunk on the deck" , while Bulkeley and Cummins describe it differently, as they have seen that the people opposed the members of the ship by broaching the wine in lazaretto, breaking cabins and chests, as well as stealing valuables and dressing in most expensive clothing they could find, while all were completely drunk . Furthermore, Williams does not give a clear account on the separation of the crew of the Wager, as he states that it was caused by the captain shooting one of the crew members , without mentioning the fact that he treated nearly all soldiers egoistically and inhumanely, as he did not even give anyone the reason of why he has killed the crewmember – Mr. Cozens .
Much of the detail could have also been added regarding other topics, such as the war of Britain with Spain in the years 1739-1748, as the reader who might be new to naval history might find the purpose of such war necessary for the understanding of the purpose of the expedition. Furthermore, one might find Glyn Williams’s book confusing because he does not state the years of certain events that happened, but only their dates and months. When a history enthusiast is researching this topic, such information might be necessary for him. As well as that, Williams's research differs from some of the others in terms of numbers, as while comparing the numbers of the crew members, according to the research of Leo Heaps, there were 1939 of them, while Williams states that there were "more than 1900", as well as he states that there were about 500 invalids, while Heaps states there were precisely 259 . Such differences could lead people using Williams's book for their research to uncertainty. To that, Williams fails to mention that the seamen on the voyage were only allowed to drink about 0.473 liters of water per day, which is why most of them committed to alcohol . One also might not understand why people hailed Anson and his treasure after his return. It can only be found in additional sources what the scale of the treasure was, as it was estimated to be around 800,000 pounds, while the entire budget of the British Navy in 1745 was 2,813,586 pounds .
To conclude, Glyndwr Williams's book "The Prize of All the Oceans" is a great starting point for those interested in the voyage of Lord Anson, as it is filled with all the general information a reader would need to have some ground knowledge for the topic. However, the book is filled with some unexplained topics that might be considered hard to interpret for the general public. Nevertheless, Williams's main point about the expedition being an "achievement to survive" is well explained, despite it being less detailed than one might want for it to be. Furthermore, the book is very compact and can be finished in a single day, as well as the tough 39 years of work and passion the author put into it can be clearly seen, which is why a person interested in naval history might find it very enthralling despite all the flaws it has.
___________________________
I have spent a week reading 5 books regarding Anson's voyage, they are: "A Narrative of the Dangers and Distresses Which befel Isaac Morris and Seven more of the Crew, Belonging to The Wager Store-Ship, Which attended Commodore Anson In his Voyage to the South Sea" by Isaac Morris, "A Voyage round the World by George Anson" with an introduction by Glyn Williams and edited by James Kinsley, published by Oxford in 1974, "Log of the Centurion Based On The Original Papers Of Captain Philip Saumarez On Board HMS Centurion, Lord Anson's Flagship During His Circumnavigation 1740-44" by Leo Heaps and "A Voyage to the South-Seas, in The Years 1740-1 Containing a Faithful Narrative of the Loss of His Majesty's Ship the Wager on a Desolate Island" By John Cummins and John Bulkeley, as well as Roger's "Command of the Oceans". As well as that, I have re-read this book twice just in order to write this review so that the people researching this book in the future could have an easier time reading it. I hope this helps at least for someone, however, I am a realist, therefore I believe that this review will rot amongst many others on the goodreads page of this book. Have a good time reading it! ~AgH3

[John Reas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent and detailed account of the voyage of George Anson and his ship, the Centurion, that was commissioned by the Admiralty to seek out and harass the Spanish fleet in the south Pacific in 1740. Despite incredible hardships and ordeals suffered by him and his squadron, Anson was able to persevere and return to England with one of the greatest naval treasures of the era. His receipt of his share of the prize award from this expedition is also explained in detail and helps to explain how the fine line between piracy and government decree was navigated in the 18th century.

[Chrisl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clearly written informative history of Anson's 1740s voyage. An appalling piece of British naval history, although financially rewarding for the survivors. Alas, back in England, many of the sailors lost their lives soon after the loot was distributed.

The book is Dewey cataloged 910.4 - Voyages Around the World, putting it in one of the most overlooked history book sections of libraries.

Williams' non-fiction reinforced and complimented van Wyck Mason's novel, the Manila Galleon.
Since Mason too quickly ended his version after Anson's capture of the treasure ship, the final chapters of Williams' history might be a goal for previous readers of Mason. For non-novel history enthusiasts with no knowledge of Anson, I recommend "The Prize of All the Oceans"
Manila Galleon

This site has a useful article :
https://www.historicnavalfiction.com/...

Here's a quote from the preface :
"Anson's successors in the Pacific were for the most part men of peace rather than of war. For them Anson's voyage, with its heavily armed ships, diseased crews and unrealistic objectives, was an object-lesson in how not to do things. Across the generations the grim story of the voyage, with its appalling losses, continues to haunt the imagination, but perhaps the most lasting impression is of Anson's own fortitude in the face of all the odds. This was the commander who had watched helplessly while his crews died in their hundreds 'like rotten sheep, who hauled ropes alongside his men and tended them when they were ill; but who never wavered in his determination to come home triumphant."

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

©1999 Son's collection

This is the full expedition of English sailing ships which included The Wager (title of a bestselling book which includes the mutiny). The number of deaths, the tribulations of sailing around the world - in the 1740's - make you wonder why anyone would do it. The abiity of the crew to repair and constantly keep the ship seaworthy is incredible. The Centurion actually does overtake the galleon, and endeavors to bring home the spoils (to England).

This account is also interesting, as the Centurion actually stops at Tinian in 1743 (and my Dad was there as a bombardier in 1943!) The mapping of the little atolls is incredible. The time the Centurion spent in China trying to resupply is interesting, the divying up of the spoils of the galleon, and the multiple "logs" telling of the trip...

[Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy naval histories from the age of sail and this book is an excellent example. The voyage of British Commodore George Anson's squadron in 1740 starts out as a search for Spanish plunder (a shipment of silver from Acapulco to Manila). Four years later, only one of its six vessels completed the mission while the others endured disaster and mutiny. Nearly 1,400 of its 1,900 sailors died during the voyage. Williams tells the story of this ordeal in a narrative full of drama and tension. This is a book that can be enjoyed by academic and armchair historians alike.

[Jeff Clausen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A part of history that was just vaguely familiar to me before reading this sometimes heartbreaking account of how difficult sea voyages could be. Plus the idea that one country could just plan, from the King on down, how to plunder another country’s wealth, is hard to reconcile with the ideas of sovereignty and coexistence. They weren’t even at war, for gods sake. I guess that’s why it’s history, fortunately.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a lot about sailing in the early years, the conditions aboard and the lack of navigational surety...what a different world back in the 1700s as countries used exploration to bolster not only their treasuries, but also position in the world.

[Avi Hobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! I started reading about this fleet’s story through The Wager by David Grann (highly recommended), but I wanted more. This book gave it all! It’s a very detailed account of the voyage from start to finish. Great book if you want to know all the little details.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much plundering! Loved the chapter on HMS Wager.

[Steve Dedier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very readable and informative account.

[William Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once you get past the stilted English and slightly dry writing, this book actually goes so hard

[Lee Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's okay, The Wager was far better

[Chiefdonkey Bradey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scurvy, the Cape Horn and Spanish gold

[Gilly McGillicuddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gift from Em to encourage me in my Wager/Anson fascination and to help with my Facts & Fiction compilation for 'The Unknown Shore' and 'The Golden Ocean'. Not all that much I didn't know yet in this book, but it did introduce me more thoroughly to Pascoe Thomas, and gave me a clearer image of Anson as a person.
A very good reference book for connections, links and corrections of the original accounts. Well written, too. Much recommended.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a much better book than I expected when I cracked the cover. It had been sitting on my "to-read" shelf for over 10 years, and I am sorry I did not get to it sooner. Anson's voyage belongs to an era before British supremacy at sea was taken for granted, and I was surprised to learn, for example, that Royal Navy officers and men in the 1740s did not have a standard uniform. This, is a very readable and informative account of an epic voyage with an equally-epic mortality rate from scurvy. Another account of "men of iron sailing in ships of wood".

[David R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Workmanlike, but Williams manages to make every seminal moment anticlimactic.

[Megan]

The Prize of All the Oceans: Commodore Anson's Daring Voyage Triumphant Capture sp treas Galleon by Glyn Williams (2001)

[Davew · Rating 5 out of 5]

If someone made this up you would not believe it. What a fantastic achievement.

[Ted · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good adventure-at-sea.