On 27 August 1816, a combined English and Dutch Fleet of over 25 ships, under the commmand of Admiral Lord Exmouth, attacked the North African City of Algiers. Its objective was to destroy the power of the Barbary Corsairs based there and to release those Christian slaves held in captivity. The Bombardment lasted ten hours and only after the city had been severely damaged did it surrender. Casualties on both sides were extremely high, but the operation was a total success and about 1,650 enslaved prisoners were liberated from Algiers and the surrounding area.