When did Gibraltar become British?

Short answer

An Anglo-Dutch force captured Gibraltar in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession, and Spain formally ceded it to Britain under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. It has been British ever since.

Detailed answer

Gibraltar was captured on 4 August 1704 by an Anglo-Dutch fleet during the War of the Spanish Succession.

The Treaty of Utrecht

Under Article X of the Treaty of Utrecht (1713), Spain ceded the town, castle and fortifications of Gibraltar to the British Crown.

Since then

• Spain attempted to retake Gibraltar several times, most notably during the Great Siege of 1779 to 1783.
• Gibraltarians voted to remain British in the 1967 referendum.
• In 2002 they rejected a proposal for shared UK and Spanish sovereignty.

Gibraltar is today a self-governing British Overseas Territory.