The Historical Maritime Society

Nelson and His Navy - Battle of St Vincent

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The battle which took place on St. Valentine's day, February 14th marked a turning point in the war, which up until then had little glory for the British. The Mediterranean was closed to British shipping,Spain and Italy had allied with France and there had been several military defeats of Britain's allies. Poor weather and even worse commanders had prevented a French invasion of Bantry Bay.

Sir John Jervis in the VICTORY (100) was commanding a British fleet in early 1797 and was awaiting the return of Commodore Nelson's squadron from the West Indies where it had been engaged in a special mission. He chose a rendezvous off Cape St. Vincent, Europe's most south-westerly point.

Jervis was 62 and had been in the Navy since he had run away to sea as a boy. Having raised his flag in 1795 he had slowly tightened up discipline, improved morale and had generally improved his fleet dramatically. When Nelson returned he transferred his broad pennant to the CAPTAIN (74) and the stage was set for the battle.

The Spanish fleet under Admiral Jose de Cordova had been escorting a group of large merchant ships carrying mercury, en route to Cadiz. They consisted of 27 ships of the line and 3 frigates, including the SANTISSIMA TRINIDAD, a massive 136 gun ship! Jervis had 15 ships of the line and 7 frigates and smaller craft, on the face of it a massive imbalance.

As the morning fog slowly lifted so the extent of the Spanish fleet was revealed to Jervis. His Flag-Captain constantly updated him on the numbers until finally Jervis said "Enough, Sir. If there are fifty sail of the line, I shall go through them."When they saw the approach of the British the Spanish fleet seemed to be in some disorder and their line had split into two distinct groups with the frigates widely dispersed. Jervis ordered his fleet into line with the VICTORY roughly in the centre, CULLODEN leading and CAPTAIN third from the rear. His plan was to sail between the two parts of the Spanish fleet then to turn and attack the van. This would reduce his odds to 20:15 as the remaining seven would pass in the leeward group and be unlikely to beat back against the wind to rejoin the battle. Initially the two fleets passed each other in opposite directions and opened fire at about 700 yards. As the van of the British line passed the Spanish, Jervis ordered them to tack to bring them in line with the opposition. The problem would be that the Spanish would now be able to link the two parts of their broken fleet together, a considerable threat. It was at this point that Nelson, made his now famous move. He ordered the CAPTAIN to wear round out of line and intercept the leading Spanish ship in the van, the SANTISSIMA TRINIDAD and prevent her joining up with the leeward group. Jervis supported this action by signalling for each ship to 'take suitable station and engage as arriving up in succession'. After this the two fleets became involved in a general melee.

Nelson has been described as showing daring and risking court-martial for leaving the line but this is over dramatic. The rules of engagement did not say that an officer could not use his discretion where necessary and Nelson proved that to be the best action.

As the fight continued the CAPTAIN became more and more damaged until, in Nelson's own words she had "lost her foremast, not a sail, shroud or rope standing, the wheel shot away, and incapable of further service in the line or chase". Nelson brought her up alongside the SAN NICOLAS and ordered boarders away. "The soldiers of the 69th Regiment, with an alacrity which will ever do them credit, with Lieutenant Pierson of the same Regiment ... broke the upper quarter-gallery window, jumped in, followed by myself (Nelson) and others."

There then followed a stiff fight against the Spanish and the ship was eventually taken, the ensign being hauled down by Captain Berry.

At that point Nelson saw the SAN JOSEF alongside and ordered his boarders to cross onto that ship and to take her. "When I got into her main-chains, a Spanish officer came upon the quarter-deck rail, without arms and said the ship was surrendered."

This incident became known as 'Nelson's Patent Bridge for Boarding First-Rates'.

The day was quite obviously carried by the British and the following day the fleet sailed into Portuguese Lagos Bay with four prizes and the CAPTAIN in tow. Although the Spanish pursued Jervis' fleet and could have renewed the action perhaps with victory at the end of it, they chose not to and slunk back to Cadiz and ignominy.

Jervis was rewarded for his audacious action by elevation to the peerage and he became the Earl St. Vincent. Nelson, at last, began to reach the public attention which he had craved for so long.

As a footnote he made sure that his version of the action was delivered home on the LIVELY, a frigate he knew would be sent back to England with the news. He gave his enthusiastic account to Colonel Drinkwater, a passenger on the ship and it was he who did so much to popularise Nelson's part in the action when he got back.