# Western Design captures Jamaica (1655)

URL: https://english-history.com/timeline/1655-western-design-captures-jamaica
Categories: main-event

English forces seized Jamaica from Spain after a failed attack on Hispaniola. Within the broader Stuarts & Revolutions period, the shared monarchy of England, Scotland and Ireland produced conflicts over religion, taxation and sovereignty that culminated in civil war, revolution and union. This event is placed at 1655 in the chronology so it can be read alongside the political, military, social and cultural changes around it. The conquest became a major expansion of English power in the Caribbean.

## Why it matters
The conquest became a major expansion of English power in the Caribbean.

Ruler at the time: [Oliver Cromwell](https://english-history.com/rulers/oliver-cromwell)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — Western Design captures Jamaica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Western+Design+captures+Jamaica&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Western Design captures Jamaica](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Western+Design+captures+Jamaica)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of British history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_British_history_%281600%E2%80%931699%29)
- [UK Parliament — Living Heritage](https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/)