Battle of Trafalgar

21 October 1805, Off Cape Trafalgar, Spain

Decisive British victory; 18 French and Spanish ships taken or destroyed

Ordered into the Mediterranean, and hearing he was to be replaced, Villeneuve sailed from Cádiz with 33 ships of the line. Nelson, with 27, had planned to break the enemy line in two places and destroy the centre and rear before the van could turn back to help. At dawn he formed two columns and bore down in light winds, flying the signal that England expected every man to do his duty. The leading ships took the enemy's fire for most of an hour before they could reply. Collingwood's Royal Sovereign broke through first, astern of Santa Ana; Victory passed close astern of Villeneuve's Bucentaure and raked her, then locked alongside Redoutable. A marksman in Redoutable's rigging shot Nelson through the shoulder and spine, and he died below three hours later, knowing he had won. Dumanoir's van turned back too late and mostly sailed away. Seventeen ships were taken and Achille blew up. A gale that night wrecked or sank most of the prizes, and four that had been taken were retaken or escaped into Cádiz; only four were brought into Gibraltar. About 4,400 French and Spanish sailors were killed and 2,500 wounded, the British 458 killed and 1,208 wounded. Napoleon had already marched his army away from the Channel, but Britain's command of the sea was not challenged again in the war.