Timeline May 1811

Events in May 1811 4

• 1742 – 1811 Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville (1742-1811) Died 28 May 1811, aged 69 Scottish politician who served as a close ally of Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger and held senior posts including Home Secretary and First Lord of the Admiralty. He was impeached in 1806 over alleged misuse of naval funds but was acquitted. He remained a dominant figure in Scottish politics for decades.
• 1811 Battle of Fuentes de Onoro Wellington halts a French relief attempt during the Peninsular War Anglo-Portuguese forces under the Duke of Wellington repelled a French army attempting to relieve the besieged fortress of Almeida. The battle was costly for both sides and forced the French to abandon the fortress. It marked a turning point in the Peninsular War's campaign for control of the Spanish-Portuguese border.
• 1811 Paraguay declares independence from Spain Asuncion junta ends Spanish colonial rule Local leaders in Asuncion overthrew the Spanish governor and established a ruling junta, effectively ending Spanish control over Paraguay. The move came amid the wider collapse of Spanish authority in South America following Napoleon's invasion of Spain. Paraguay went on to maintain independence from both Spain and neighboring Buenos Aires.
• 1811 Battle of Albuera One of the bloodiest battles of the Peninsular War Allied British, Spanish, and Portuguese forces fought a French army to a costly standstill near the Spanish town of Albuera. Casualty rates on both sides were unusually high relative to the number of troops engaged. The battle allowed the Allies to continue their siege of the fortress of Badajoz.