NILE, BATTLE OF THE

a battle fought by English naval admiral, Horatio Nelson, in the late 1700s while England was at war with France. The French military leader, Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 - 1821) had been victorious on land and began to gather his fleet together for a naval battle with England. Nelson was sent to watch the French ships at Toulon, a seaport in southeastern France. A storm came up and under its cover the French fleet escaped. Nelson followed it in a long pursuit and finally cornered the French fleet in the Bay of Abukir in northern Egypt, where he attacked and almost destroyed it on 1 August 1798. This engagement cut off Napoleon's army in Egypt and ruined his Egyptian campaign. He was forced to desert his army in Egypt and had to sneak across the Mediterranean in a tiny ship. This victory made Nelson world-famous. He was made Baron of the Nile and given a large sum of money. See also Nelson in this glossary. —PDC Volume 1 Approved Glossary

a naval battle between French and English fleets during the Napoleonic wars, fought in Abu Qir Bay near Alexandria, Egypt. In 1798, Napoleon made plans for an invasion of Egypt to constrict British trade routes and threaten Britain's possession of India. Under the command of British naval admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805), the British cornered and attacked Napoleon's fleet in the bay of Abu Qir. After a nightlong battle the French were forced to admit defeat with all but four of their vessels destroyed or surrendered.

a battle fought by English naval admiral, Horatio Nelson, in the late 1700s while England was at war with France. The French military leader, Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 - 1821) had been victorious on land and began to gather his fleet together for a naval battle with England. Nelson was sent to watch the French ships at Toulon, a seaport in southeastern France. A storm came up and under its cover the French fleet escaped. Nelson followed it in a long pursuit and finally cornered the French fleet in the Bay of Abukir in northern Egypt, where he attacked and almost destroyed it on 1 August 1798. This engagement cut off Napoleon's army in Egypt and ruined his Egyptian campaign. He was forced to desert his army in Egypt and had to sneak across the Mediterranean in a tiny ship. This victory made Nelson world-famous. He was made Baron of the Nile and given a large sum of money. See also Nelson in this glossary.