When England went to war with the Franco-Spanish alliance, led by the Bourbon royal house, the first concern of the island nation was the situation in the West Indies. Taking advantage of his kinship with the new Spanish monarch, French king Louis XIV managed to secure many trading privileges which allowed France to profit immensely from the mythical wealth of the Spanish main to the detriment of Dutch and English merchants. The Admiralty decided to commission one its most potent commanders to take care of the pressing situation across the Pond: Vice-Admiral John Benbow. For all his heroics, his campaign in the Caribbean would end in betrayal and disappointment.

"Once the pride of the Spanish Treasure Fleet, the only evidence of the stricken galleon’s existence was scattered timbers, illuminated by the last rays of the setting sun, gently brushing against one another and marking the graves of some six hundred men, now embraced by the eternity of the deep blue."

After the failed siege of Toulon, the Royal Navy was still in need of a proper naval base in the Mediterranean. This need became even more pressing when the Allied position in Spain was compromised following the Battle of Almansa. On 25 April 1707, the Duke of Berwick inflicted a crushing defeat on the combined English, Dutch, and Portuguese army in the Iberian Peninsula, reducing their presence to Catalonia. As a result, securing Catalonia for Archduke Charles—now King Charles III of Spain—became the new priority for the Alliance.  However, the Allied forces in and around Barcelona were struggling with severe provisioning issues. Establishing a permanent naval base in the western Mediterranean was seen as essential to ensuring the steady flow of troops and supplies to the Spanish front. Port Mahon, Minorca, emerged as the preferred target.

"Of the Association not a Man was sav’d ... The Captain and 24 Men of the Firebrand Fire-Shop were saved, as were also all the Crew of the Phoenix. 'Tis said the Rumney and Eagle, with their Crews, were lost with the Association"

After the victory at Barcelona, all remained quiet on the naval front in the Mediterranean. Despite the pressing need for a naval base, no further action was taken until 1707. By the summer of that year, momentum resumed for the Royal Navy as the Allies plotted their next major strike against France: Toulon.

Over time, growing numbers of Spaniards began expressing their discontent with the new Bourbon monarchy. In Catalonia especially, opposition to the Sun King’s grandson became increasingly vocal. Sensing this unrest in Barcelona and its surrounding countryside, the Allies sought to use it to their advantage. High command became determined to seize this crucial city from the Bourbons, believing that its capture could inspire other regions to rise against the central authority in Madrid. Despite a previous failure to establish a foothold in Barcelona, the Allies were now prepared to make another attempt.

Despite driving away the fleet of Comte de Toulouse at the Battle of Málaga on 24 August 1704, the French and Spanish would not so easily give up Gibraltar. Preparations were promptly made to retake 'the Rock.'

After the fierce Battle of Málaga on 24 August 1704, Admiral Rooke sailed home with much of his fleet, desperately in need of repairs. Consequently, Sir John Leake assumed command of the Anglo-Dutch naval forces off the Iberian Peninsula. He would go on to make a name for himself, playing a crucial role in the Grand Alliance's subsequent naval operations during the war.