Conflict: | British occupation of Trujillo and the Tigre Islands |
Date: | October of 1849–1850 |
Result: | Honduran victory |
Combatants Header: | Combatants |
Commander2: | Frederick Chatfield Sir Phillips Hornby |
The British occupation of Trujillo and the Tiger Islands was a brief occupation of the Honduran port of Trujillo and the Tigre Islands[1]
During Juan Lindo Zelaya's presidency (1847–52), Great Britain pressured Honduras for debt payments. On 4 October 1849, HMS Plumper entered Trujillo harbor, demanding compensation for seized mahogany from Belizean lumber companies. British forces briefly occupied Trujillo, extorting 1200 pesos. The newly appointed British consul, Frederick Chatfield, independently ordered the seizure of Tigre Island to ensure compensation. On 16 October 1849, HMS Gorgon troops occupied the island without Honduran resistance. However, this occupation, not approved by the Foreign Office, was disowned and reversed.[2]