Battle of Copenhagen
British forces destroy or capture many Danish ships during the battle.
Role range: 1800-1815
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Horatio Nelson Biography and Timeline — Page 3
Follow Horatio Nelson through 143 dated historical records for Great Britain.
Horatio Nelson, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
143Distinct records
3 of 4Page
1801–1805Years on this page
1801
Battle of Copenhagen
Nelson attacks Danish ships to keep Baltic ports open to Britain.
Role range: 1800-1815
Battle of Copenhagen
Parker orders retreat, but Nelson famously puts the telescope to his blind eye.
Role range: 1800-1815
Battle of Copenhagen
The Battle of Copenhagen helps end the League of Armed Neutrality.
Role range: 1800-1815
Neutrality
The battle weakens the League of Armed Neutrality of Denmark, Sweden, Russia and Prussia.
Role range: 1800-1815
Blind Eye
Ignores Parker's signal by putting the telescope to his blind eye.
Role range: 1800-1815 – 1801-1801
Viscount Nelson
Is created Viscount Nelson after the Copenhagen victory.
Role range: 1800-1815 – 1801-1805
Merton Place
Lives at Merton Place with Emma Hamilton and Sir William Hamilton.
Role range: 1801-1805
Baltic Fleet
Sails with Parker's fleet to challenge the Armed Neutrality.
Role range: 1800-1815 – 1801-1801
Peace of Amiens
Returns to a brief peacetime role after the Copenhagen campaign.
Role range: 1800-1815 – 1801-1802
1802
Frances Separation
Lives apart from Frances Nisbet as his relationship with Emma Hamilton continues.
Role range: 1801-1805
1803
HMS Victory
Hoists his flag in HMS Victory for Mediterranean command.
Role range: 1800-1815 – 1803-1805
Commander in Chief
Appointed commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean.
Commander in Chief
Appointed commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean.
Role range: 1800-1815
Toulon Blockade
Begins the long blockade of the French fleet at Toulon.
Role range: 1800-1815 – 1803-1805
1804
Mediterranean Patrol
Maintains pressure on the French fleet across the Mediterranean.
Role range: 1800-1815 – 1803-1805
1805
Blockade of Toulon
Villeneuve decides to dash toward Gibraltar after the long Toulon blockade.
Role range: 1800-1815
Siege of Toulon
Villeneuve decides to dash toward Gibraltar after the long Toulon blockade.
Role range: 1800-1815
Toulon Breakout Decision
Villeneuve decides to leave Toulon and move toward Gibraltar after prolonged British naval pressure.
Role range: 1800-1815
Blockade of Toulon
Nelson receives a signal at Agincourt Sound that the French are at sea.
Role range: 1800-1815
Toulon Fleet Breakout Reported
News that the French fleet has sailed from Toulon triggers Nelson's renewed Mediterranean pursuit.
Role range: 1800-1815
Blockade of Toulon
The French fleet escapes from Toulon and the British fleet loses contact.
Role range: 1800-1815
Toulon Contact Lost
The French fleet escapes Toulon and British forces temporarily lose contact during the subsequent pursuit.
Role range: 1800-1815
Blockade of Toulon
Heads east through the Straits of Messina in pursuit of the French fleet.
Role range: 1800-1815
Toulon Fleet Pursuit through Messina
Nelson passes through the Straits of Messina while searching for Villeneuve after the Toulon blockade is disrupted.
Role range: 1800-1815
Blockade of Toulon
Sails from Alexandria to Malta and learns Villeneuve has returned to Toulon.
Role range: 1800-1815
Toulon Fleet Return Confirmed
Nelson learns at Malta that Villeneuve has returned to Toulon, altering the course of the British pursuit.
Role range: 1800-1815
Villeneuve Escape
Learns Villeneuve has escaped Toulon and begins the pursuit.
Role range: 1800-1815 – 1805-1805
Pursuit of Villeneuve
Pursues Villeneuve after the French fleet escapes Toulon.
Role range: 1800-1815 – 1805-1805
West Indies Pursuit
Arrives in the Caribbean during the pursuit of Villeneuve.
Role range: 1800-1815 – 1805-1805
Return to England
Returns briefly to England after the long Atlantic pursuit.
Role range: 1800-1815 – 1805-1805
Final Departure
Sails from Portsmouth to take command off Cadiz.
Role range: 1800-1815 – 1805-1805
Final Departure
Leaves Portsmouth to take command before Trafalgar.
Role range: 1800-1815 – 1805-1805
Arrival off Cadiz
Joins the fleet and assumes command before Trafalgar.
Role range: 1800-1815 – 1805-1805
Cadiz Blockade
Joins the fleet off Cadiz before the Trafalgar campaign.
Role range: 1800-1815 – 1805-1805
Trafalgar Memorandum
Issues tactical instructions for breaking the enemy line.
Role range: 1800-1815 – 1805-1805
Nelson Memorandum
Sets out his battle plan in the Trafalgar Memorandum.
Role range: 1800-1815 – 1805-1805
Fatal Wound
Is fatally wounded by a marksman during the battle.
Role range: 1800-1815 – 1805-1805
Battle of Trafalgar
Many French and Spanish ships surrender without any British ship being lost.
Role range: 1800-1815 – 1805-1805
Battle of Trafalgar
Nelson is killed but the British fleet wins a decisive victory.
Role range: 1800-1815 – 1805-1805
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.