Before revision: By John Singleton Copley (1738-1815) July 1779 saw the start of the Great Siege of Gibraltar, an attempt by France and Spain to wrest control of Gibraltar from the British.
After revision: By John Singleton Copley (1738-1815) July 1779 saw the start of the Great Siege of Gibraltar, an attempt by France and Spain to recover control of stolen Gibraltar from the British.