Two ships, the _Dunkirk_ (Captain Butler) and _Centurion_ (Captain Fairborn), were detached to take possession of the castle and harbour of Fornelle, on the north coast of the island. The _Dunkirk_ arrived two hours before the _Centurion_, and opened a heavy fire, which was returned with some effect; but when the _Centurion_ also hove in sight, the garrison surrendered as prisoners of war. All the transports and bomb-vessels were then sent to Fornelle creek, having previously had no secure place to ride in.
On the 28th General Stanhope opened a battery of nine guns on two towers flanking an outer line, which the garrison of San Felipe had lately thrown up, beating them down and making some breaches in the connecting walls. This was not difficult, as the works had been hastily run up with loose stones. Brigadier Lane was stationed on the right with two battalions. Captain Philip Stanhope commanded the marines. Some of Wade’s men entered a breach in the wall without orders, and as soon as he saw their advance he followed with all his men. Philip Stanhope led on his marines, and there was a general advance, the garrison, after a short resistance, abandoning all the outworks and retreating into the castle. Next morning the enemy commenced a parley, which was followed by their capitulation in the afternoon. They could have held out for a long time. A hundred pieces of ordnance were found in the castle, three thousand barrels of powder, and all things necessary for a long defence. The victory was dearly bought with the death of Captain Philip Stanhope, who fell mortally wounded. He was struck by a ball on the forehead as he was held up by two sailors to look over a wall seven feet high. He was interred in one of the vaults of the castle. The General wrote: ‘The conquest has cost me very dear, but since Philip died in doing service to Her Majesty and his country, I shall think his life well bestowed, as I should my own.’
Ciudadela at once surrendered, and its garrison of a hundred men became prisoners of war. There was no resistance in any other part of the island. Stanhope wrote: ‘A great part of our success in reducing this island is owing to the zeal and affection the people have for us, which is beyond expression.’ Port Mahon was garrisoned by British marines, and the fortifications were strengthened by new works at a cost of about 60,000_l._ It was General Stanhope’s idea that Minorca should be held as a sort of mortgage for the large sums advanced to King Charles.