French Wars: Nelson

Question 1

In what year did Nelson lose his right eye?

Answer 1

1794

Question 2

When did Nelson become famous for taking his ship out of line and engaging in hand-to-hand combat, earning him the promotion of Rear Admiral?

Answer 2

Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1797

Question 3

How many Spanish warships did Nelson capture at the Battle of Cape St Vincent ?

Answer 3

2

Question 4

How did Nelson and his crew benefit from the capture of warships?

Answer 4

Prize money - Nelson also demanded cut from ships his captains had captured

Question 5

What did Nelson often refer to his men as?

Answer 5

His ‘band of brothers’

Question 6

When did Nelson lose his right arm?

Answer 6

1797

Question 7

What physical ailment did Nelson suffer from as well as his injuries?

Answer 7

Chronic seaknesses

Question 8

At what battle did Nelson famously put a telescope to a sightless eye and ignored the signal to halt?

Answer 8

Copenhagen (1801)

Question 9

What did Nelson describe his fighting tactic as?

Answer 9

Gunnery and boldness

Question 10

How did Nelson keep his men healthy?

Answer 10

Would often stop off to get fresh supplies such as onions, meat, and fresh water

Question 11

What were the navy’s main roles in the French wars? (3)

Answer 11

Delivering supplies and men, blockading the French

Defending Britain from invasion, protecting trade vessels

Question 12

What daring tactics did Nelson use to attack the fleet at Aboukir Bay? (Battle of the Nile)

How many ships were captured and destroyed out of the 17 engaged?

Answer 12

Attacked in fading daylight, slipped half his force between the French ships and the coast to attack them from both sides

13

Question 13

Name 2 reasons why the French presence in Egypt was so threatening when Napoleon took control in 1788.

Answer 13

Threatened British power in the Mediterranean

Threatened India and valuable trade of East India Company

Question 14

How did the news of Nelson’s victory at the Battle of the Nile affect his reputation at home?

Answer 14

Made a Baron, annual pension of £2,000

Pictures sold in the street and popular songs

Question 15

What incident happened in Naples which led to accusations of war crimes?

Answer 15

Nelson allowed 99 prisoners of war to be killed despite the fact that the British commander had guaranteed their safety

Question 16

How did Nelson’s supporters defend him after accusations of war crimes in Naples?

Answer 16

The prisoners were actually rebels, not prisoners of war, it was the Neapolitan royalists that killed the men, not the British

Question 17

When was the Peace of Amiens?

Why did Britain declare war again?

Answer 17

Peace of Amiens = 1802-1803

France refused a trade deal and occupied Naples

Question 18

What was Nelson’s main activity during 1803-1804?

Answer 18

At sea constantly, hoping to engage the French fleet

Question 19

When did Villeneuve’s fleet finally put to sea after their inactivity?

Answer 19

1805

Question 20

How long did it take Nelson to reach the West Indies and how long did it take Villeneuve?

Answer 20

Took him 3 weeks, took Villeneuve 5

Question 21

How many sick men did Nelson and Villeneuve have comparatively when they disembarked at the West Indies?

Answer 21

Villeneuve = 1000 sick, Nelson = 0

Question 22

What did the British minister Hugh Elliot jokingly say Nelson had achieved?

Answer 22

He had shrunk the globe

Question 23

When was the Battle of Trafalgar?

Answer 23

October 1805

Question 24

How many ships did the British have compared with the Franco-Spanish alliance at the Battle of Trafalgar?

Answer 24

27 vs 33

Question 25

What strategy did Nelson use to win the Battle of Trafalgar?

Answer 25

British ships formed two columns and broke through the Franco-Spanish line, engaging in close combat

Question 26

How many French were killed on the decks of the Redoubtable?

Answer 26

490/643 (accept 500/650)

Question 27

Why was Nelson an easy target when he was shot down by snipers?

Answer 27

He wore his full regalia