1805

HMS Victory

HMS Victory took part in 5 naval battles. Trafalgar is not only the most famous of these but also the last. Today Victory is preserved at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and is the oldest commissioned warship in the world.

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Nelson caught sight of the Franco-Spanish fleet off Cape Trafalgar. He cut through the fleet in two places, allowing superior British gunnery, seamanship and endurance to annihilate the enemy. They lost 19 ships and the British none. They suffered more than 4,000 dead and 1,690 casualties, and the British less than 450, but one of those was Nelson. As he lay dying, Hardy brought news that 14 enemy ships had been captured.  Nelson was satisfied...

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 "Thank God, I have done my duty."

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"Chaps that fought like the Devil, sit down and cry like a wench."

Hibbert

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The battle for control of the seas was over!

HMS Victory at Portsmouth.