Napoleonic Wars - Naval Battles

The Glorious First of June was a naval battle fought on June 1, 1794, during the Wars of the French Revolution. Seeking to attack a grain convoy, Adm. Lord Howe engaged the French fleet in a battle dubbed the Glorious First of June. In the fighting, Howe captured or destroyed seven French ships.

The Battle of Cape St. Vincent was fought on February 14, 1797, during the Wars of the French Revolution. Engaging off Cape St. Vincent, Portugal, a smaller British fleet under Adm. Sir John Jervis won a stunning victory over the Spanish. In the battle, Commodore Horatio Nelson played a key role in disrupting the Spanish line.

The Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife was fought July 22-25, 1797. Attacking Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Royal Navy vessels under Rear Admiral Horatio Nelson attempted to capture Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Repulsed, Nelson lost his right arm during the battle.

The Battle of the Nile was fought on August 1/2, 1798 in Aboukir Bay. Attacking the French in a night action, Rear Admiral Horatio Nelson sailed into Aboukir Bay and engaged the fleet of Vice Admiral François-Paul Brueys D'Aigalliers. In the battle that ensued, Nelson destroyed or captured the bulk of the French fleet.

The Battle of Copenhagen saw the British attack the Danish fleet in Copenhagen Roads on April 2, 1801. Led by Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, the British closed with the enemy fleet and forced its surrender. During the Battle of Copenhagen, Nelson famously ignored orders to break off the action.

The Battle of Cape Finisterre was fought on July 22, 1805, between the fleets of Vice Admiral Robert Calder and Vice Admiral Pierre Villeneuve. Returning from an abortive campaign in the West Indies, Villeneuve's French fleet was attacked off Cape Finisterre by Calder. In the battle, Calder captured two Spanish ships before retiring.

The Battle of Trafalgar was fought October 21, 1805, and was Vice Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson's final battle. Catching the French and Spanish fleets off Cape Trafalgar, Nelson won a decisive victory and captured 21 enemy ships. Though Trafalgar was a great truimph, Nelson was mortally wounded in the fighting.

The Battle of the Basque Roads was fought April 11-13, 1809, during the Napoleonic Wars. Assaulting the French fleet in Basque Roads, the British opened the battle by attacking with fireships. These forced many French ships in Basque Roads ashore and though some were taken, the British failed to fully exploit the success.