Strangford, Independence and the London Missions

Abstract

By 1807, Napoleon Bonaparte’s domination of Europe was at its peak. A year later his invasion of Spain eventually provided the British army with the scenario in which to confront his army. This naturally meant a new alliance between Great Britain and Spain, added to the traditional alliance Britain already had with Portugual, whose Prince Regent, the future King Joao VI, had in 1807 decided to move his court to Brazil, due to the menace of a French invasion in the Iberian peninsula.