BATTLE OF THE NILE NELSON vs NAPOLEON

In 1798, Britain's most celebrated admiral pursued the French across the Mediterranean, attempting to thwart General Bonaparte's mission to Egypt. The pursuit culminated in what was arguably the most strategically important naval battle of the Napoleonic Wars

- MARK WOOD

At the beginning of January 1798, General Napoleon Bonaparte commenced building a substantial expeditionary force of troops supported by an invasion fleet in the port of Toulon, France. His objective was to conquer the Turkish Khedivate of Egypt. This was planned as the initial phase of a campaign to interdict Britain's trade route with its colony of India; support the French-sponsored ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, Tipu Sultan; and revive French interests on the sub-continent.

In London, however, at this early stage it was unclear to the government of William Pitt what the French leader's goal was and where his designs lay. Nonetheless, the decision was made to activate a Royal Navy squadron, led by Rear Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson, to shadow the French forces. In this capacity, Nelson was made deputy to the officer commanding British forces in the Mediterranean, Admiral Lord St Vincent. Departing Portsmouth on 8 April, Nelson sailed for Gibraltar with a force of three ships to link up with the remainder of the warships earmarked for his squadron.

Nelson anchored off the Spanish port of Cadiz at the end of April to discuss operational planning, before sailing on to Gibraltar, arriving on 4 May. Four days later the British squadron, substantially reinforced to 13 74-gun ships of the line, headed by HMS Vanguard, sailed from Gibraltar on a reconnaissance mission to locate the French. Twelve days into the journey, Nelson's squadron was struck by a devastating storm which dismasted Vanguard and scattered the British force. Vanguard was taken in tow by HMS Alexander, eventually anchoring off the island of San Pietro southwest of Sardinia for repairs on the 22nd, which were concluded in an astonishing four days.