Captain Thomas Shirley undertook a military expedition aimed at striking Dutch colonial outposts along the Gold Coast of Africa, now known as present-day Ghana. This action was part of the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War, which erupted between Britain and the Dutch Republic in the late 18th century. At its core, the war was fueled by economic rivalry and colonial dominance, particularly over trade routes and valuable resources like gold, which were abundant along the West African coast.

Shirley's expedition involved a series of naval and land maneuvers targeting key towns and trading stations held by the Dutch. At a time when European powers were vying for influence in Africa, the British sought not just to assert military might but also to expand their commercial interests. The Gold Coast had been a site of Dutch activity since the early colonial era, and Britain's efforts to usurp control were closely linked to their broader imperial strategy.

The campaign led by Shirley would set the stage for continued conflict over control of the region's lucrative resources. It heightened tensions between British and Dutch forces and underscored the importance of control over trade networks that extended beyond Africa to the Americas and the Caribbean. The success or failure of such expeditions would have lasting consequences on both economic and political fronts.