Nelson, Horatio Nelson, Viscount: In the Napoleonic Wars

Upon the renewal of war (1803), Nelson was given command of the fleet in the Mediterranean and blockaded the French fleet at Toulon for 22 months. When the French finally escaped, he pursued the fleet across the Atlantic to the West Indies and back to Spain, where it took refuge with the Spanish fleet in Cadiz. On Oct. 21, 1805, the combined fleets ventured out of port, and found Nelson waiting for them off Cape Trafalgar. Before the battle he gave the famous signal, “England expects that every man will do his duty.” He won his most spectacular victory but died in the action.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• In the Napoleonic Wars
• In the French Revolutionary Wars
• Early Life
• Bibliography

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