William Walker's Expedition to Nicaragua

Date: May 3, 1855 • Location: Washington, United States

A group of American mercenaries led by William Walker set sail from San Francisco to conquer Nicaragua.

A mercenary, merc, or soldier of fortune is a private individual who joins an armed conflict for personal profit, is otherwise an outsider to the conflict, and is not a member of any other official military. Mercenaries fight for money or other forms of payment rather than for political interests.