page_title: Darien scheme
section_title: Second expedition (1699)
hierarchical_section_title: Darien scheme / Second expedition (1699)
caption_attribution_description: English: The Scots settlement in America called New Caledonia. A.D. 1699. Lat. 8-30 North. According to an original draught by H. Moll G. 1729. - Map of the Bay of New Caledonia in Darién, Panama.Deutsch: Die schottische Besiedlung in Amerika genannt Neukaledonien. A.D. 1699. Lat. 8-30 Nord. Nach einer Originalzeichnung von H. Moll G. 1729. - Karte der Bay von Neukaledonien in Darién, Panama.
context_page_description: The Darien scheme was an unsuccessful attempt, backed largely by investors of the Kingdom of Scotland, to gain wealth and influence by establishing New Caledonia, a colony on the Isthmus of Panama, in the late 1690s. To be located on the Gulf of Darién, the plan was for the colony to establish and manage an overland route to connect the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. From the scheme’s inception until today, rival claims have been made suggesting that the undertaking was beset by poor planning and provisioning; by divided leadership; by a lack of demand for traded goods, due to an English trade blockade; by devastating epidemics of disease; by successful collaboration between the English East India Company and the English government to frustrate it, and by a failure to anticipate the Spanish Empire's military response. It was finally abandoned in March 1700 after a siege by Spanish forces, which also blockaded the harbour.
  As the Company of Scotland was backed by approximately 20% of all the money circulating in Scotland, its failure left the entire Lowlands in substantial financial ruin and was an important factor in weakening their resistance to the Act of Union.
context_section_description: Word of the first expedition did not reach Scotland in time to prevent a second voyage of more than 1000 people.
  A new company flagship, The Rising Sun, boasting 38 cannon, led the way, supported by The Duke of Hamilton, the Hope of Bo'ness, and a smaller vessel, the Hope. They sailed from the Clyde, on the west of Scotland, cutting out the perilous round-Scotland route taken by the previous ships.
  The expedition had the blessing of the Church of Scotland who had appointed Alexander Shields as the senior of the 4 ministers.
  The second expedition arrived in Caledonia Bay on 30 November 1699 and found Thomas Drummond's New York sloops already there. Some men were sent ashore to rebuild the huts, which caused others to complain that they had come to join a settlement, not build one.
  Morale was low and little progress was made. Drummond insisted there could be no discussion, and the fort must be rebuilt as a Spanish attack would surely come soon.
  Drummond clashed with the merchant James Byres, who maintained that the Counsellors of the first expedition had now lost that status and had Drummond arrested. Initially bellicose, Byres began to send away all those he suspected of being offensively minded – or of being allegiant to Drummond. He outraged a kirk minister by claiming it would be unlawful to resist the Spanish by force of arms, as all war was unchristian. Byres then deserted the colony in a sloop.
  The colonists sank into apathy until the arrival of Alexander Campbell of Fonab, sent by the company to organise a defence. He provided the resolute leadership which had been lacking and took the initiative by driving the Spanish from their stockade at Toubacanti in January 1700. However, Fonab was wounded in the daring frontal attack and then became incapacitated with a fever.
  The Spanish force – who were also suffering serious losses from fever – closed in on Fort St Andrew and besieged it for a month. Disease was still the main cause of death at this time. The Spanish commander called for the Scots to surrender and avoid a final assault, warning that if they did not, no quarter would be given.
  After negotiations, the Scots were allowed to leave with their guns, and the colony was abandoned for the last time. Only a handful of those from the second expedition returned to Scotland. Of the total 2500 settlers that set off, just a few hundred survived.
caption: The Bay of Caledonia, west of the Gulf of Darien. New Edinburgh is on the isthmus on the right.
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