English Admiral Nelson Is Shot Through the Shoulder and Spine: October 21, 1805

This text comes from our book, Light to the Nations, Part II.

After failing to help Napoleon in the invasion of England, Admiral Villeneuve had turned the French fleet from the English Channel and set sail to the port of Cádiz, on the Atlantic coast of Spain. Though she had originally been one of France’s enemies, Spain had made peace with the revolutionary republic in 1796 and joined it in the war against Great Britain. In 1805, Spain was again France’s ally, and so when Villeneuve reached Cádiz, he took command of the Spanish fleet as well as his own.

At the beginning of his campaign against the Third Coalition in October 1805, Napoleon ordered Villeneuve to sail out from Cádiz and head for the Mediterranean. With 18 French and 15 Spanish ships, Villeneuve left Cádiz on October 19, little knowing the danger that awaited him. For over the horizon lay a British fleet of 27 ships commanded by England’s greatest sea captain, Lord Horatio Nelson.

Horatio Nelson

In the early morning of October 21 (one day after Mack’s surrender at Ulm) Villeneuve, sailing off the Cape of Trafalgar, learned that the British fleet was pursuing him. Doubting the battle readiness of his own ships, Villeneuve ordered his fleet to turn back to Cádiz. But by 11 a.m., he could see the British on the horizon and knew there was no escape. Villeneuve tried to pull his ships into a tighter line to meet the British attack.

On board the flagship, the HMS Victory, Nelson prepared his fleet for battle. Knowing he was outnumbered and outgunned, Nelson nevertheless made a battle plan to break the French line and fight only a part of the enemy fleet at a time. He entrusted himself to the “Great God,” to whom he composed a prayer that asked for “a great and glorious victory” with “no misconduct, in any one, [to] tarnish it.”

“May humanity after victory be the predominant feature in the British fleet,” Nelson prayed. And for himself, he declared, “I commit my life to Him who made me and may His blessing light upon my endeavors for serving my Country faithfully.” After composing this prayer, Nelson climbed to the quarterdeck and sent out a signal to his fleet: “England expects that every man do his duty,” it said.

Forming two lines, the British fleet broke through the Franco-Spanish fleet and split it in two. Villeneuve was thus separated from most of his fleet. He could not immediately assist his ships on the center and left of his battle line, where each ship was being attacked by one or two British ships. So far, Nelson’s plan was working; but, as the Victory came into French firing range, a French sharpshooter noticed the admiral walking on the quarterdeck. Taking aim, he fired, and Nelson fell, shot through the shoulder and the spine.

The wounded admiral was taken to his cabin. But it was not long before he learned that 18 enemy ships had surrendered and Villeneuve was taken prisoner. The battle was over, and it was a great English victory. Nelson had shattered the French and Spanish fleet and proved that England was the greatest sea power in the world. “Thank God I have done my duty,” said the expiring Nelson. He died about 4:30 p.m., and his last words were “God and my country.”