What if Britain never lost Minorca?

[raharris1973]

What if Britain never lost Minorca, and it stayed as British as Gibraltar?

How much more populous is it than Gibraltar? How much more could it, and would it be, on a year-round basis, under continued British rule? How hybridized would the culture be, between Hispano-Mediterranean elements and British? Would it be a sorer point for Spain, because it is bigger? Or a less sore point, because it is not physically attached to the mainland? Or about equally sore?

 

[Simon]

Are we talking just Minorca, or – due to other events – would it also include the other three Balearic islands? That's going to make something of a difference.

 

[raharris1973]

Are we talking just Minorca, or – due to other events – would it also include the other three Balearic islands? That's going to make something of a difference.

I was just thinking Minorca.

But branch out, and consider

A) just Minorca

B) all Balearics to Britain from x point in time in 18th century wars or Napoleonic wars