How many died at Trafalgar?
How many died in the Battle of Trafalgar? About 1,500 British seamen were killed or wounded in the Battle of Trafalgar, and Admiral Horatio Nelson was mortally wounded. In the Spanish and French fleet, 14,000 men were lost, of whom half were prisoners of war, and Admiral Pierre de Villeneuve was captured.
Table of Contents
What happened to Horatio Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar?
Nelson was shot by a French sniper during the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805. He was struck while pacing the quarterdeck of his ship HMS Victory with Captain Thomas Hardy, at about 1.15pm.
Who lost the Battle of Trafalgar?
British
In one of the most decisive naval battles in history, a British fleet under Admiral Lord Nelson defeats a combined French and Spanish fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar, fought off the coast of Spain.
Why did the British won the Battle of Trafalgar?
Why did Britain win at Trafalgar? The main reason why the British fleet won was the superior training and discipline of the crews. They had been at sea for years and most had been together in the same ship for at least two years. They knew their drills and worked as a team.
How did Lord Nelson lose his eye?
From 1793 until his death at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 he was involved in battle after battle. He suffered serious injury during these years, losing the sight in his right eye at the Battle of Calvi in Corsica and his right arm at Santa Cruz in Tenerife.
What was Nelson’s body preserved in?
Nelson’s body was placed in a cask filled with brandy on 22 October 1805 and was then transported to Gibraltar on HMS Victory, arriving there on 28 October 1805. In Gibraltar the brandy was replaced by spirits of wine to preserve the body.
What did Nelson actually say to Hardy?
Nelson spent time with his longstanding close friend and colleague Captain Thomas Hardy in the hours between his fatal shooting and eventual death. His last words to him are said to have been, ‘Kiss me Hardy’.
What happened to HMS Victory after Trafalgar?
In 1922, she was moved to a dry dock at Portsmouth, England, and preserved as a museum ship. She has been the flagship of the First Sea Lord since October 2012 and is the world’s oldest naval ship still in commission, with 244 years’ service as of 2022.
What would happen if Britain lost Trafalgar?
Despite Nelson’s excellent track record of naval victories throughout the war, Britain still needed a massive victory to ensure it remained on top. Losing Trafalgar would have left Britain vulnerable and with the prospect of waging a land campaign against Bonaparte incredibly bleak.
Why did Nelson say I see no ships?
‘I see no ships’ is a description of the response made when Admiral Horatio Nelson wilfully disobeying a signal to withdraw during a naval engagement. The same incident is also the origin of the expression ‘turn a blind eye’.
Why is rum called Nelsons blood?
Why is rum called ‘Nelson’s Blood? Legend has it that Pusser’s Rum is sometimes referred to as ‘Nelson’s Blood’, because after the great Admiral Nelson’s death at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, in which his body was preserved in a cask of spirits, holes were drilled into the sides and the liquid drained.
Why did they drink rum in the navy?
Why Do Sailors And Pirates Drink Rum? In addition to preventing diseases such as scurvy and the flu, pirates drank it to remain calm. Rum was cheap, so it quickly gained popularity among sailors and pirates. The English Navy included rum in its supplies and provided a daily ration to the crew.
What does Admiral Nelson have in his left hand?
The letter was written in Nelson’s left hand while he was recuperating in Bath from losing his arm.
What do the French think of Trafalgar?
Europe’s naval defence A French pensioner says he remembers the courage of Britain during World War II, but he believes that the British have always been slightly wary of the continent.