The Battle of Blaauwberg, also known as the Battle of Cape Town, fought near Cape Town on Wednesday 8 January 1806, was a small but significant military engagement during the War of the Third Coalition, one of the Napoleonic Wars. After a British victory, peace was made under the Treaty Tree in Woodstock establishing British control over the Dutch Cape Colony. The Cape later became a permanent part of the British Empire following the Congress of Vienna that marked the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1814. By establishing permanent British rule over the Cape Colony the battle would have many ramifications for the southern Africa region during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. A bi-centennial commemoration was held in January 2006.
Image: Storming the Cape 1806
Image: HMS Diadem at capture of Good Hope Thomas Whitcombe 2
Image: HMS Diadem at capture of Good Hope Thomas Whitcombe 3
Image: Battle of Blaauw Berg
Sir David Baird, 1st Baronet
General Sir David Baird, 1st Baronet, of Newbyth, GCB was a British Army officer.
Portrait by John Watson Gordon, c. 1825
Baird discovered the body of Tipu Sultan after storming Seringapatam. Engraved from an 1839 painting by David Wilkie.
Detail. Gold sword's hit, inlaid with enamel and diamonds. Presented to Sir David Baird by his officers to commemorate his victory at Seringapatam. From England, 1799 AD. National Museum of Scotland
Sculpture of Baird by Lawrence Macdonald, 1828