Battle of Trafalgar
Off Cape Trafalgar, Atlantic Ocean
What happened
Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson and Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood led the British fleet against the combined French and Spanish fleet of Pierre-Charles Villeneuve and Federico Gravina. Napoleon needed control of the English Channel to invade Britain. Off Cape Trafalgar in southern Spain, Nelson sent his ships in two columns straight at the enemy line, hoping to break it into pieces. The British lost no ships while 18 French and Spanish ships were captured or destroyed.
Why it matters
Result: British victory. Leaders: Horatio Nelson / Cuthbert Collingwood against Pierre-Charles Villeneuve / Federico Gravina. Why it matters: The battle ended French plans to invade Britain. The Napoleonic Wars continued for another ten years.
What came next
A storm after the battle wrecked many of the damaged ships. Nelson is remembered with Nelson's Column in London's Trafalgar Square.
Did you know?
Before the battle, Nelson sent the famous flag signal 'England expects that every man will do his duty'.
Timeline
- 1798Nelson wins the Battle of the Nile.
- 21 October 1805Nelson's fleet defeats the French and Spanish at Trafalgar.
- After the battleA storm wrecks many of the damaged ships.