Battle of Copenhagen

2 April 1801, The King's Deep, Copenhagen, Denmark

British victory; the Danish line destroyed and an armistice agreed

Denmark, Sweden, Prussia and Russia had formed an Armed Neutrality to resist British searches of their merchant ships, which would have shut Britain out of the Baltic and its naval stores. A British fleet under Sir Hyde Parker, with Nelson as second in command, was sent to break it up. The Danes had moored old ships of the line and floating batteries in a line along the King's Deep in front of the city, backed by the Trekroner fort. Nelson took twelve ships of the line through the shoals and attacked the line from the south, while Parker's reserve stayed to the north. Three of Nelson's ships ran aground, and the Danes fought hard, reinforcing their ships with fresh men from the shore. With the battle in the balance, Parker hoisted the signal to break off. Nelson put his telescope to his blind eye and said he could not see it. By mid-afternoon most of the Danish line had been silenced, and Nelson sent a letter ashore offering a truce to save the burning ships. The Danes agreed to an armistice, and news that Tsar Paul had been murdered ended the Armed Neutrality.