The good relations between Britain and the Ottoman Court following the Battle of the Nile were so eroded that by 1806 war was in the air. Strategically the Dardanelles was of great importance, as it commanded the approach to Constantinople from the Mediterranean. Although the passage of the strait was easily defended, in 1807 the English admiral Sir John Duckworth made his way past all the fortresses into the Sea of Marmora.

When affairs in Constantinople required the presence of a naval force Duckworth was detached there with five ships. He was instructed to safeguard the British ambassador, Charles Arbuthnot. He was also to require Ottoman compliance with British demands, by anchoring close off the city. He was to open fire if he did not receive satisfaction within half an hour. Duckworth carried out his orders as far as he was able and forced the Dardanelles on 19 February 1807. He sailed through with seven ships of the line and some smaller vessels, and silenced the forts at Sestos and Abydos destroying some Turkish ships. He ran the gauntlet of the Turkish batteries which included some medieval fixed bombards firing stone shot of up to 800lbs. Miraculously no serious damage was sustained, the casualties were six killed and 51 injured He anchored opposite Constantinople, threatening to bombard it. However without the appropriate troops a landing was pointless and he realized that the Turks were stalling him while strengthening their defences. Sir John failed to make the Turks accede to his demands although he realised that the Dardanelles would be harder to re-pass. On 3 March he audaciously sailed back through the Dardanelles and sustaining heavier casualties than on his way in.

The painting shows the British line across the centre of the painting. It is led by the ‘Canopus’ and followed by the ‘Repulse’, ‘Royal George’, ‘Windsor Castle’ and ‘Standard’. This last ship also led the ‘Meteor’, ‘Pompee’ and ‘Thunderer’. The ‘Thunderer’ was towing the ‘Lucifer, ‘Endymion’ and ‘Active’. The ships are shown passing between the outer forts guarding the approaches to Constantinople and firing at them from both broadsides. The painting is signed ‘Thos Whitcombe’ after an original by J.T. Serres, and there is also a copy by Thomas Buttersworth. The image was later engraved in an aquatint by J. Sutherland. See also BHC0576.