The Battle of Trafalgar

On October 21st 1805, Admiral Lord Nelson defeated a force made up of the French and Spanish fleets off the coast of Spain in what was one of the most decisive naval battles in history. The Franco-Spanish force was led by Napoleon Bonaparte, who had made France the predominant force of Europe.

The beginning of the battle.  Image source

However Napoleon and his allies were constantly thwarted by Nelson with the Battle of Trafalgar being his last and most important victory.  After sighting the thirty-three ships that made up Napoleon’s fleet, Nelson divided his twenty-seven ships into two and from his flag ship the ‘Victory’ famously declared, “England expects that every man will do his duty”.

The battle as sen from the 'Victory'.  Image soue

Nineteen of Napoleon’s ships were lost compared with none of the British fleet but after five hours of fighting, one and a half thousand British sailors had been killed or wounded.  The flag ship, ‘Victory’ was the main target for the French and Spanish fleet and while under heavy fire, a sniper managed to shoot Nelson in the shoulder and chest.  The Admiral survived until about half an hour before the battle was over and after being informed that a British victory was forthcoming, he uttered his last words, “Now I am satisfied.  Thank God I have done my duty”.

The Admiral Lord Nelson.  Image source

The victory ensured that any plans that Napoleon had of invading Britain were gone.  Nelson was hailed as the saviour of the nation and had a column erected in his memory in Trafalgar square which had been renamed in his honour, as were many streets across the country.