American Colonial Historical Medals (Betts Medals)
1739 Admiral Vernon - Porto Bello

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Betts-238 Copper.This medal is one a large series labeled the Vernon medals. Many English viewed the Spanish fortifications in the New World with awe and respect, especially Portobello and Cartagena. Portobello was a fortified port, in what is now Panama, where Spanish gold and silver that was mined from Peru was collected and shipped. Captain Edward Vernon boasted to Parliament that he could take Portobello with only six ships. On November 21st, 1739, Admiral Vernon attacked, what some regarded as an Iron Fort at the mouth of the harbor of Portobello, with only six ships as he claimed. The names of the six ships were: the Burford, the Hampton Court, the Worcester, the Strafford, the Princess Louisa and the Norwich. In 1741 George Washington's half-brother, Lawrence Washington, served on Vernon's flagship the Princess Caroline and named his estate Mount Vernon in honour of his commander.