Timeline July 1597

Events in July 1597 3

• 1540 – 1597 Won Gyun (1540-1597) Died 16 July 1597, aged 57 Won Gyun was a Korean naval commander who succeeded Yi Sun-sin as commander of Korea's Joint Fleet. His disastrous leadership led to the near-total destruction of the Korean navy at the Battle of Chilcheollyang, where he was killed fleeing ashore. The defeat prompted Korea to reinstate Yi Sun-sin, who rebuilt the fleet to win at Myeongnyang months later.
• 1597 Islands Voyage English expedition to the Azores fails to seize the Spanish treasure fleet An English fleet under the Earl of Essex and Walter Raleigh sailed to the Azores hoping to intercept Spain's annual treasure fleet and strike Spanish naval bases. Poor coordination between the commanders let the treasure fleet escape, and the expedition achieved little while leaving England's coast exposed. The voyage damaged Essex's standing at Elizabeth I's court.
• 1597 Battle of Chilcheollyang Japanese fleet destroys the Korean navy A Japanese naval force overwhelmed and nearly annihilated the Korean fleet near Geoje Island during the second Japanese invasion of Korea. Admiral Won Gyun was killed and all but a handful of Korean ships were lost. The defeat forced Korea to reinstate Yi Sun-sin as naval commander.