CAPE-COAST, the name of the chief British settlement on the coast of Guinea in Africa. The name is thought to be a corruption of Cabo Corso, the ancient Portuguese appellation. This cape is formed by an angular point, washed on the south and east by the sea, on which stands the English fort. Here the Portuguese settled in 1610, and built the citadel of Cape Coast upon a large rock that projects into the sea. A few years afterwards they were dislodged by the Dutch, to whom this place is principally indebted for its strength. In 1664 it was demolished by Admiral Holmes, and in 1665 the famous Dutch Admiral De Ruyter was ordered by the States to revenge the insults of the English. With a squadron of 13 men of war, he attacked all the English settlements along the coast; ruined the factories; and took, burnt, and sunk all the shipping of the English Company: however, after all his efforts, he was baffled in his attempts on Cape Coast. By the treaty of Breda it was confirmed to the English, and the king granted a new charter in 1672; on which the Company applied all their attention to the fortifying and rendering it commodious.