Spies in the Shipyard: Espionage and the Rise of Spain’s 18th-Century Navy

About this episode

This episode discusses the political and naval reforms in 18th-century Spain under the Marquess de la Ensenada and the role of espionage in shipbuilding advancements.

This episode explores the shipyards, political intrigue, and naval ambitions of 18th-century Spain at a pivotal moment in its emergence as a modern maritime power. Once dominant in the wake of its vast American empire, Spain by the mid-1700s faced a rapidly changing world, as Britain and France competed fiercely for control of the seas. At the centre of this transformation lay the Marquess de la Ensenada, an ambitious and influential minister determined to rebuild Spain’s naval strength. His reforms reshaped the navy from the ground up: new bases rose at Ferrol, Cartagena, and La Carraca; naval administration was overhauled; officers were professionalised; and shipbuilding became a central priority of the state. Looking beyond Spain’s borders, Ensenada’s programme embraced foreign expertise. British shipbuilding methods were adopted, officers were sent abroad to gather knowledge, and skilled shipwrights were discreetly recruited from London—efforts that sometimes edged into espionage. The result was a bold and complex naval experiment that brought both friction, and lasting impact. Dr Sam Willis spoke with Dr Catherine Scheybeler to explore the ambitions, achievements, and…

People in this episode

Host: Dr Sam Willis

Guest: Dr Catherine Scheybeler

Topics covered

• Espionage
• 18th-century Spain
• Naval power
• Shipbuilding
• Political intrigue
• Maritime history

Keywords

• Spain
• navy
• shipyards
• Marquess de la Ensenada
• British shipbuilding
• naval administration
• espionage
• maritime power

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Spain, British, Marquess de la Ensenada

Places: Ferrol, Cartagena, La Carraca, Britain, France

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