The Napoleonic Wars expand to South America.

Britain had achieved naval supremacy with the victory at the battle of Trafalgar and France within the European continent.

Home Riggs Popham, commissioned by prime minister Pitt in 1805 to study the military plans being proposed by Venezuelan revolutionary Francisco de Miranda to the British Government, had then persuaded the authorities that, as the Spanish Colonies were discontented, it would be easy to promote a rising in Buenos Aires.

After co-operating with Sir David Baird in recovering the Cape of Good Hope Station from the Dutch in June 1806, he leads the British invasions of the Río de la Plata on Buenos Aires by General William Carr Beresford's brigade of fifteen hundred men with his squadron.

The British expeditionary force of seventeen hundred men lands on the left bank of the Río de la Plata on June 23, 1806, and invades Buenos Aires, which has been abandoned by the Viceroy.

Over one hundred of the British expeditionary force had died from sickness, leaving fourteen hundred weakened soldiers when they arrived in Buenos Aires; but the Spanish colonists, though discontented, are not disposed to accept British rule.

They rise up against the soldiers who had landed, and take them prisoners.

Beresford capitulates and offers his sword on August 4.

Popham's ships bombard the taken citadel, but he is recalled, and will be censured by a court martial for leaving his station.

In spite of his embarrassment the City of London will present him with a sword of honor for his endeavors to "open new markets", and the sentence will do him limited harm.

A British campaign (1806–1807) to conquer the strategically important Rio de la Plata region in South America has met with failure.

Godoy had meanwhile withdrawn from the Continental System that Napoleon had devised to combat Britain, only to join it again in 1807, after Napoleon defeats the Prussians.

Napoleon, however, has lost his faith in Godoy and King Charles; there is also growing support in Spain for the king's son, Ferdinand, who opposes the widely despised Godoy.

Ferdinand, however, favors an alliance with Britain, and Napoleon has always doubted the trustworthiness of any Bourbon royalty.