The capture of Porto Bello was part of a campaign known as 'The War of Jenkins' Ear', which was fought against Spain in the West Indian colonies. When Robert Jenkins, a merchant sea captain, had his ear cut off by a Spanish officer at Havana in 1731 it led to calls in Parliament for war with Spain. During a House of Commons debate in the summer of 1739, Captain Edward Vernon claimed he could take the Spanish town of Porto Bello – a source of Spanish depredation on British shipping on the north side of the Isthmus of Darien between Columbia and Panama – with only six ships of the line. He was promoted to vice-admiral and given the six ships so that he could carry out his promise. These were the 'Burford', Vernon's flagship, and the 'Hampton Court', both of 70 guns; the 'Worcester', 'Strafford' and 'Princess Louisa', all of 60 guns, and the 'Norwich', 50 guns. Vernon's squadron sighted Porto Bello on the night of 20 November 1739. The main obstacle to overcome was the Iron Castle, or 'Castillo de Ferro', at the northern entrance to the harbour, which they attacked at 2pm on 21 November and a ferocious battle ensued. On the morning of 22 November the Spanish governor, Don Francisco Martinez de Retez, sent a flag of truce and accepted the Vice-Admiral's terms of surrender. Public money found in the garrison was distributed by Vernon among his men and the fortifications were then demolished. The surrender terms stated that Vernon received shipping and 10,000 dollars from the treasury as well as brass ordnance. He was also successful in demanding from Panama the release of some South Sea Company men who were imprisoned there.