Battle of Cape St Vincent

Background. The Spanish declaration of war on Britain and Portugal in October 1796 made the British position in the Mediterranean untenable. After the Treaty of San Ildefonso in 1796 allied Spanish and French forces against Great Britain, the Royal Navy blockaded Spain in 1797, impairing communications with its empire.

Opposing Fleets. Early in 1797 the Spanish fleet of 27 ships of the line lay at Cartagena on the Mediterranean Sea. Nelson reached the British fleet of fifteen ships off Spain on 13 February and reported the location of the Spanish fleet to Jervis, who commanded from his flagship Victory.

The Battle. During the night, Spanish signal guns sounded in the fog, though Jervis still had no idea of the size of the fleet he faced. At 11:00 a.m. he ordered his ships to form a single line of battle ahead and astern of Victory, sailing south to pass between the two Spanish columns.

Aftermath. Jervis and his officers were rewarded for the victory, which allowed British forces to return to the Mediterranean after evacuating the region in 1796. Córdoba was dismissed from the Spanish Navy and forbidden from appearing at court, and Jervis resumed his blockade of the Spanish fleet in Cadiz. In 1798 the London Gazette advertised £140,000 in prize money for the commander, officers, and men.