On 21 October 1805 Nelson attacked a larger Franco-Spanish fleet in two columns that cut its line at two points. Seventeen ships were captured and one blew up,…
Trafalgar settled who controlled the sea. Austerlitz followed on 2 December 1805, and the wars ended at Waterloo ten years later.
With the sea closed to him, he declared a blockade of the British Isles and banned trade with Britain, part of the Continental System.
Seventeen ships were captured, but a gale followed. Wikipedia counts only four prizes that survived in British hands: Swiftsure, Bahama, San Ildefonso and San Juan Nepom…
Shot by a marksman on the French Redoutable at about 13:15 to 13:30, Nelson died about three hours later after hearing the fleet had won. Collingwood took command.
Seventeen allied ships struck their colours and Achille blew up. Eleven reached Cadiz and four escaped north. No British ship was lost.
Victory passed between Bucentaure and Redoutable and raked Bucentaure, separating Villeneuve's flagship from his van.
Collingwood's Royal Sovereign broke the line astern of Santa Ana, about one-third from the rear, with the lead ships under fire before most guns could reply.
Nelson's signal went up before the first shots. Lieutenant Pasco suggested expects in place of confides.
Ordered to wear for Cadiz, the fleet took about 90 minutes in light wind and formed a crescent about five miles long.
Villeneuve ordered the fleet to sail on 18 October; it took two days to leave port, and 18 British ships were sighted in pursuit on 20 October.
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