a town in North America, situated upon a bay of the same name in the gulf of Mexico. The bay is about 30 miles long and five broad, except at the entrance, where it does not much exceed a mile; and is defended by the fort of Barancas, situated about three miles from its mouth. The town, which is situated about ten miles from the mouth of the bay, is of importance chiefly for its harbour, which is the best in the gulf of Mexico.

The year 1781, so eventful to Britain in many respects, was also remarkable for the reduction of Pensacola by the Spaniards under Don Bernardo Galvez. Great preparations for this expedition had been making at the Havannah; but a dreadful hurricane obliged it to put back Pensacola, to repair; but as soon as the fleet was again judged capable of putting to sea, an embarkation was made of near 8000 men, with Don Bernardo at their head, together with five ships of the line, who arrived at Pensacola on the 9th of March 1791. This force was soon augmented by ten ships of the line and six frigates; while General Campbell, the British governor, could oppose such a formidable armament with few more than 1000 men, consisting of some regulars and seamen, with the inhabitants. The entrance of the harbour, which was the principal object of defence, was guarded by two small armed vessels, but they were insufficient to second the batteries that had been erected for its protection; and these, without the assistance of some ships of force, were incapable of resisting a vigorous attack. Notwithstanding this prodigious odds, however, the Spaniards met with the most determined opposition. Every inch of ground was disputed with the greatest resolution. The harbour was not forced without the greatest difficulty, nor could the vessels be taken that defended it; the companies belonging to them, after setting them on fire, retired on shore.

The Spaniards, now in possession of the harbour, invested the place in form, and made their approaches in a cautious and regular manner; while, on the other hand, the besieged were no less active and vigilant in their own defence. Sallies were made occasionally with great success, at the same time that an uninterrupted fire was kept up in such a manner as not only greatly to annoy, but even to strike the besiegers with astonishment. This incensed the Spanish general the more, as he knew that the garrison could expect no relief, and therefore that all their efforts could only prolong the date of their surrender. The resistance was the more mortifying, as he was perfectly conscious of the bravery of his troops; and he had artillery fit, as his officers expressed themselves, "to be employed against Gibraltar." With all these advantages, however, so resolute was the defence of the garrison, that after the siege had continued for two months, very little hope could be entertained of its speedy termination. As they despaired therefore of making any effectual impression by means of their cannon, they erected a battery of mortars, with which they bombarded a redoubt that commanded the main avenue to the place; and in this they were favoured by an unexpected accident. On the 8th of May a shell burst open the door of the powder magazine under the redoubt, by which it was blown up, with the loss of near 100 men killed and wounded. Fortunately for the garrison, however, two flank-works still remained entire, from both which so heavy a fire was kept up, that though an assault was immediately given, the assailants were repulsed with great slaughter. This afforded leisure to the garrison to carry off the wounded men, with some of the artillery, and to spike up the rest. As the enemy, however, soon recovered themselves, and prepared for a general storm, it was thought proper to abandon the flank-works, and retire into the body of the place. The possession of these outworks, however, gave the enemy such advantages, that the place was no longer tenable. Their situation, on a rising ground, enabled them to command the battery opposite to their chief approach with small arms, and to single out the men at their guns. A capitulation therefore became absolutely necessary, which was obtained on honourable terms.

The town, with the whole province of West Florida, was confirmed to the Spaniards by the treaty of 1783, and continued in their possession till the 24th May 1818, when it was taken after a trifling resistance by the American general Jackson, on pretence that the Spaniards, though then at peace with the United States, had aided the Seminole Indians in their hostilities. By a treaty published in May 1819, this town with the whole of East and West Florida was ceded to the United States, but the treaty has not yet been ratified by the king of Spain. (June 1819.) W. Long. 87. 12. N. Lat. 30. 28.