English expedition to the Gambia River
Part of the Europeancolonisation of Africa
Late 17th-century map of the Gambia
Date September 1618 Location Gassan,the Gambia Result Portuguese victory
Belligerents
Portugal	England
Commanders and leaders
Hector Nunez	George Thompson †
Strength
Unknown	2 ships[1][2]
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Most killed

TheEnglish expedition to the Gambia River was a failed expedition led byGeorge Thompson with the objective of opening trade withTimbuktu.

Letters patent granting exclusive trading rights in theGambia River were issued to various English adventurers in 1598, 1612, and 1632, but it wasn't until 1618 that the English made their first attempt to explore the river. This expedition was led byGeorge Thompson, sent by theLondon Company of Adventurers^[1] with the objective of opening trade withTimbuktu.^[2][3]

Leaving his shipCatherine atGassan, Thompson proceeded with a small party in boats up the Neriko river. During his absence, the crew of theCatherine was massacred by Portuguese slave traders^[1] led byHector Nunez.^[2] All Englishmen present at Gassan were killed in the surprise assault.^[1][2][3] Some of Thompson's party managed to return overland toCape Verde and subsequently back to England. Meanwhile, Thompson remained inthe Gambia with seven of his crew but was killed, either by one of the Englishmen after a sudden quarrel^[2][3] or by natives.^[1]

Another expedition underRichard Jobson was later dispatched, which seized Portuguese shipping in retaliation for the massacre. Jobson also traveled to Neriko, reporting the commercial potential of the river. However, both his and previous expeditions resulted in significant losses, leading patentees to abandon their attempts in the Gambia and refocus on theGold Coast.^[1][2][3]

• Gray, J.M (1940).The History of the Gambia. London: Cambridge University Press.ISBN 978-1-107-51196-5.{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
• Johnston, Harry H. (1899).A history of the colonization of Africa by alien races(PDF). University Press.

• Battles involving the Kingdom of England
• Battles involving Portugal
• Conflicts in 1618
• History of the Gambia

• CS1 errors: ISBN date