ABSTRACT
Horatio Nelson was probably the most famous naval leader in British history. In 1805, after years of daring and largely successful naval battles in which he did not always obey orders, Nelson led a force of 27 warships against 33 French and Spanish ships in the Battle of Trafalgar. Nelson’s force destroyed the French and Spanish navy and thus eliminated the possibility of Napoleon invading England with his army, which was one of his major objectives. Although he was killed at Trafalgar, Nelson was a master of naval leadership and, during his life, he gained the respect and adoration of the British people and much of Europe.
