Every year, in the height of summer, Santa Cruz de Tenerife brings to life the historical reenactment of the Deed of July 25, 1797— the epic event in which the local population repelled the attack of the British fleet commanded by the celebrated Rear Admiral Horatio Nelson.
In 2025, the 228th anniversary of this battle is celebrated—an unmissable occasion not only for scholars and military‐history enthusiasts, but also for citizens and tourists, who are emotionally engaged in the portrayal of the events that marked those decisive days for Tenerife.
At the end of the eighteenth century, Santa Cruz was a crucial port, strategically positioned on the trade routes between Europe, the Americas, and West Africa. Its importance soon attracted the interest of Great Britain, determined to capture it in order to weaken Spanish influence in the Atlantic.
In May 1797, two British frigates seized a Spanish frigate and a French corvette moored in the city’s harbor. This episode convinced Nelson that Santa Cruz was a vulnerable target. On July 15, a powerful British fleet—2,000 men and 393 guns strong—set sail from Cádiz with the intent to conquer the island.
On the night of July 21–22, the sighting of the English ships alerted the population and Governor Antonio Gutiérrez de Otero y Santayana, an experienced military commander. A detailed defensive plan was immediately put into action: the most vulnerable civilians were evacuated, and 600 soldiers of the Canary Islands Infantry Battalion, over 1,000 volunteer militiamen, and 387 artillerymen were mobilized. They were joined by French sailors, troops from the garrison in Cuba, and numerous civilian volunteers.
After several diversionary maneuvers, the British fleet launched its decisive assault on July 25. The fiercest fighting took place in the heart of the city, around the Castillo de San Cristóbal and along what is now the historic-center streets. The local resistance was tenacious and well organized: Nelson himself was seriously wounded and lost his right arm during the assault.
Disoriented and struggling, the British forces requested to surrender. General Gutiérrez, displaying great nobility, granted them an honorable withdrawal without further bloodshed—an act that earned admiration and respect even from the defeated.
The victory had significant repercussions: Santa Cruz was granted by King Charles IV the prestigious title “Muy Noble, Leal e Invicta,” gaining administrative autonomy and heightened prestige.
Each year, the commemoration of the Deed of July 25 remains a fundamental celebration of Tenerife’s identity, remembered with pride and a spirit of conviviality. Curiously, Nelson is commemorated with respect: today a city street bears his name, and a local traditional pastry—“brazo de Nelson”—ironically and affectionately recalls this historic event.