JENKINS, ROBERT (fl. English master mariner, is known as the protagonist of the "Jenkins's ear" inci dent, which, magnified in England by the press and the opposition, became a contributory cause of the war between England and Spain (1739) which ultimately merged into the War of the Aus trian Succession. Bringing home the brig "Rebecca" from the West Indies in 1731, Jenkins was boarded by a Spanish guarda costa, whose commander rifled the holds and cut off one of his ears. On arriving in England Jenkins stated his grievance to the king. At first the case created no stir, but in 1738 the repetition
of his story with dramatic detail before a committee of the Rouse of Commons created much political excitement.
Jenkins was subsequently given command of a ship in the East India Company's service, and later became supervisor of the company's affairs at St. Helena.
See T. H. Brooke, History of the Island of St. Helena (2nd ed., 1824), and H. R. Janisch, Extracts from the St. Helena Records (i885).