Trafalgar, Battle of

The decisive fleet action of the Napoleonic Wars, fought 21 October 1805 off Cape Trafalgar near Cadiz. Vice-Admiral Nelson’s 27 ships of the line attacked a combined Franco-Spanish fleet of 33 under Admiral Villeneuve in two columns that cut the enemy line. The British captured or destroyed about 18 enemy ships without losing one of their own; Nelson was shot by a French marksman aboard HMS Victory and died as the battle was won. The victory ended any French threat of invading Britain and secured British naval supremacy for a century.