Jenkins Ear Day is observed on April 9, commemorating the incident in which Captain Robert Jenkins lost his ear during a confrontation with Spanish coast guards led by privateer Juan de León Fandiño. The event occurred when Jenkins' ship, the Rebecca, was raided, and the exact reason for the severing of his ear remains unclear, with theories suggesting it was either punishment for raiding Spanish ships or due to contraband. Jenkins returned to England with his pickled ear, which became a powerful symbol of English pride and outrage, ultimately leading to the War of Jenkins' Ear between England and Spain. The incident stirred public sentiment, prompting the House of Commons to summon Jenkins in 1738 to present his ear, which he did, stating he had committed his cause to his country. The war that followed was marked by British attacks on Spanish territories, resulting in significant casualties, primarily from disease. Peace was eventually restored with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.