Admiral Lord Nelson
Siege of Calvi in Corsica, 1794:
• Nelson had been sent to blockade Corsica, at first an unglamorous role, but made more
significant by the British loss of Toulon and the consequent need for another port.
• Blockade turned to invasion, with Nelson eventually winning the argument about
attacking Bastia (his army counterpart considered it too strong), which was soon taken
thanks to the use of naval guns brought ashore by the 34-year-old Nelson, given
command of the British land forces.
• The British moved on to Calvi, where again the naval batteries proved vital. But on the
morning of July 12, 1794, while inspecting one of these Nelson was hit in the eye by
debris from a sandbag hit by an enemy shot. He soon lost all sight in his right eye. Calvi
fell less than a month later.
The Battle of Cape St. Vincent, 1797:
• Admiral Sir John Jervis encountered a Spanish fleet almost twice the size of his own at
the Battle of Cape St Vincent. Aided by skilful captains, like Horatio Nelson and
Cuthbert Collingwood, Jervis won an impressive victory.
• Nelson ignored orders to maintain a tight formation, instead veering his ship off course
causing a division of the Spanish fleet in the process.
• Nelson as a result boarded the San Josef and participated in hand-to-hand combat,
demonstrating his courage and pragmatism, despite seniority of orders.
• In total the British captured 4 Spanish ships.
The Battle of the Nile, 1st – 3rd August 1798:
• In 1798, Napoleon Bonaparte left Toulon en route to Egypt, with thirteen battleships and
280 transports carrying nearly 50,000 men.
• Nelson was given the task of destroying the French fleet, he set off in pursuit of
Napoleon’s fleet across the Mediterranean. Nelson missed the fleet in Alexandria, Egypt
by one day, however, Nelson persisted in his task.
• Nelson found the French fleet at the mouth of the River Nile on 1 August. While both
fleets were similar in strength, the French ships had moored in line in shallow waters
near shoal, which would be treacherous for the British if their fleet were to run aground.
• Convention stipulated that attacks came at morning light to provide clarity of vision for
the force, however Nelson for the first time demonstrated a willingness to defy
convention in favour of success. Nelson ordered an attack at dusk; the British slid their
ships along the French landside where the guns were unprepared to perform broad
siding.
• The French vessels were moored, unable to manoeuvre or sail, the ships were attacked
from two sides, with only one side defendable.
• The Battle was a victory for Nelson, superior British gunnery by speed and technicality,
by morning, only two French ships escaped, and the British reasserted their dominance
over the Mediterranean. Napoleons army remained trapped in Egypt, reducing the threat
of invasion to Britain.
Nelson created the principle of the ‘Band of Brothers’, whereby superior officers were not
always above the initiative and common sense of those below them. This created a sense of
unity in Nelson’s fleet and harboured respect for his orders and commands when given. Also
described as the ‘Nelson Touch’, Nelson would negotiate and draw up plans for attack with his
Siege of Calvi in Corsica, 1794:
• Nelson had been sent to blockade Corsica, at first an unglamorous role, but made more
significant by the British loss of Toulon and the consequent need for another port.
• Blockade turned to invasion, with Nelson eventually winning the argument about
attacking Bastia (his army counterpart considered it too strong), which was soon taken
thanks to the use of naval guns brought ashore by the 34-year-old Nelson, given
command of the British land forces.
• The British moved on to Calvi, where again the naval batteries proved vital. But on the
morning of July 12, 1794, while inspecting one of these Nelson was hit in the eye by
debris from a sandbag hit by an enemy shot. He soon lost all sight in his right eye. Calvi
fell less than a month later.
The Battle of Cape St. Vincent, 1797:
• Admiral Sir John Jervis encountered a Spanish fleet almost twice the size of his own at
the Battle of Cape St Vincent. Aided by skilful captains, like Horatio Nelson and
Cuthbert Collingwood, Jervis won an impressive victory.
• Nelson ignored orders to maintain a tight formation, instead veering his ship off course
causing a division of the Spanish fleet in the process.
• Nelson as a result boarded the San Josef and participated in hand-to-hand combat,
demonstrating his courage and pragmatism, despite seniority of orders.
• In total the British captured 4 Spanish ships.
The Battle of the Nile, 1st – 3rd August 1798:
• In 1798, Napoleon Bonaparte left Toulon en route to Egypt, with thirteen battleships and
280 transports carrying nearly 50,000 men.
• Nelson was given the task of destroying the French fleet, he set off in pursuit of
Napoleon’s fleet across the Mediterranean. Nelson missed the fleet in Alexandria, Egypt
by one day, however, Nelson persisted in his task.
• Nelson found the French fleet at the mouth of the River Nile on 1 August. While both
fleets were similar in strength, the French ships had moored in line in shallow waters
near shoal, which would be treacherous for the British if their fleet were to run aground.
• Convention stipulated that attacks came at morning light to provide clarity of vision for
the force, however Nelson for the first time demonstrated a willingness to defy
convention in favour of success. Nelson ordered an attack at dusk; the British slid their
ships along the French landside where the guns were unprepared to perform broad
siding.
• The French vessels were moored, unable to manoeuvre or sail, the ships were attacked
from two sides, with only one side defendable.
• The Battle was a victory for Nelson, superior British gunnery by speed and technicality,
by morning, only two French ships escaped, and the British reasserted their dominance
over the Mediterranean. Napoleons army remained trapped in Egypt, reducing the threat
of invasion to Britain.
Nelson created the principle of the ‘Band of Brothers’, whereby superior officers were not
always above the initiative and common sense of those below them. This created a sense of
unity in Nelson’s fleet and harboured respect for his orders and commands when given. Also
described as the ‘Nelson Touch’, Nelson would negotiate and draw up plans for attack with his
