Blockade of Toulon
Villeneuve decides to dash toward Gibraltar after the long Toulon blockade.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1805 in Great Britain
Explore 100 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1805.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1805
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 100 unique records.
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January
Siege of Toulon
Villeneuve decides to dash toward Gibraltar after the long Toulon blockade.
Toulon Breakout Decision
Villeneuve decides to leave Toulon and move toward Gibraltar after prolonged British naval pressure.
Blockade of Toulon
Nelson receives a signal at Agincourt Sound that the French are at sea.
Toulon Fleet Breakout Reported
News that the French fleet has sailed from Toulon triggers Nelson's renewed Mediterranean pursuit.
Blockade of Toulon
The French fleet escapes from Toulon and the British fleet loses contact.
Toulon Contact Lost
The French fleet escapes Toulon and British forces temporarily lose contact during the subsequent pursuit.
Blockade of Toulon
Heads east through the Straits of Messina in pursuit of the French fleet.
Toulon Fleet Pursuit through Messina
Nelson passes through the Straits of Messina while searching for Villeneuve after the Toulon blockade is disrupted.
February
Blockade of Toulon
Sails from Alexandria to Malta and learns Villeneuve has returned to Toulon.
Toulon Fleet Return Confirmed
Nelson learns at Malta that Villeneuve has returned to Toulon, altering the course of the British pursuit.
March
Slavery
Wilberforce reintroduceS his Bill it in the 1805 session, on this occasion it is defeated on the second reading
Villeneuve Escape
Learns Villeneuve has escaped Toulon and begins the pursuit.
Portsmouth Block Mills
A third series of machines for large pulley blocks completes the main block-making installation.
April
Pursuit of Villeneuve
Pursues Villeneuve after the French fleet escapes Toulon.
June
West Indies Pursuit
Arrives in the Caribbean during the pursuit of Villeneuve.
July
Battle of Cape Finisterre
Intercepts Villeneuve and captures two Spanish ships.
August
Return to England
Returns briefly to England after the long Atlantic pursuit.
September
Final Departure
Sails from Portsmouth to take command off Cadiz.
Final Departure
Leaves Portsmouth to take command before Trafalgar.
Arrival off Cadiz
Joins the fleet and assumes command before Trafalgar.
Cadiz Blockade
Joins the fleet off Cadiz before the Trafalgar campaign.
Cadiz Blockade
Maintains blockade pressure before Nelson arrives.
October
Nelson Memorandum
Sets out his battle plan in the Trafalgar Memorandum.
Trafalgar Memorandum
Issues tactical instructions for breaking the enemy line.
Battle of Trafalgar
Leads the lee column and takes command after Nelson is wounded.
Battle of Trafalgar
Many French and Spanish ships surrender without any British ship being lost.
Battle of Trafalgar
Nelson is killed but the British fleet wins a decisive victory.
Battle of Trafalgar
The victory helps protect Britain from French invasion plans.
Battle of Trafalgar
Traps Villeneuve outside Cadiz and forces battle off Cape Trafalgar.
Battle of Trafalgar
Villeneuve leaves Cadiz and Nelson brings the combined fleet to battle.
Body Preserved
Preserves Nelson's body for return to Britain.
Body Preserved
Nelson's body is preserved for the voyage home after Trafalgar.
Command After Nelson
Assumes command after Nelson is mortally wounded.
Death of Horatio Nelson
Dies aboard HMS Victory after learning the battle is won.
Death of Nelson
Attends Nelson after he is fatally wounded.
Death of Nelson
Dies after learning that victory is secured.
England Expects
Orders the famous signal before battle begins.
England Expects
Signals that England expects every man will do his duty.
England Expects
Raises Nelson's signal from HMS Victory.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.