Bonaparte begins preparations to invade England

Background. Prior to 1803, French invasion plans had been shelved by the Peace of Amiens. Earlier attempts, such as the 1798 gathering on the Channel coast, were sidelined by campaigns in Egypt and Austria. Preparations resumed in earnest after the outbreak of war in 1803, building on earlier planning from the ancien régime.

Preparations. A new army of 200,000 men, known as the Armée des côtes de l'Océan, was gathered and trained at camps including Boulogne. Port facilities at Boulogne were improved, and forts were built. The troops' boredom was alleviated by constant training and ceremonial visits by Napoleon, who also awarded the Légion d'honneur.

Logistics. The preparations were financed by the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, which yielded 50 million francs. A flotilla was assembled, initially under Admiral Étienne Eustache Bruix. Napoleon also considered using troop-carrying balloons, appointing Sophie Blanchard as an air service chief, though this idea proved a dead-end.