Action of 14 September 1779

The action of 14 September 1779 was a minor naval engagement that occurred on 14 September 1779, off the Azores between the Royal Navy frigate HMS Pearl under the command of George Montagu and the Spanish Navy frigate Santa Mónica under the command of Miguel de Nunes, with Pearl capturing Santa Mónica after a brief engagement. In September 1779, three years into the American Revolutionary War, Montagu set sail on Pearl on a cruise in the eastern fringes of the Atlantic Ocean.

On 14 September, Montagu encountered Santa Mónica sailing nearby. Pearl chased the Spanish frigate after she tried to escape, catching up with her after a two-hour chase and exchanging a furious cannonade. Both vessels were of equal size, although Santa Mónica had less cannons than Pearl, and many crewmen on the Spanish frigate had never seen action before. After outmanoeuvring and raking Santa Mónica twice, de Nunes struck his colours. The Spanish frigate was taken back to a British port.