Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife

22–25 July 1797, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands

Spanish victory; the British landing failed, and Nelson lost his right arm

Rear-Admiral Nelson was sent with a small squadron to seize a Spanish treasure ship believed to be at Santa Cruz. A first landing on the 22nd, meant to take the heights above the town by surprise, was seen and called off. On the night of 24 July Nelson led about a thousand men in the boats straight at the mole. The defenders under General Antonio Gutiérrez were waiting. As Nelson stepped ashore his right elbow was shattered by grapeshot; his stepson Josiah Nisbet got him back to the ships, where the arm was amputated. The cutter Fox was sunk with many of her men. Troubridge got a few hundred men into the town but could not take the citadel, and in the morning he negotiated their return to the ships under arms, after promising that the squadron would not attack the Canaries again. The Spanish gave the British wounded bread and wine. It was Nelson's only defeat, and for a time he thought his career was over.