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Questions about Battle of Cape Finisterre (1805)

Short answers, pulled from the story.

What happened during the Battle of Cape Finisterre in 1805?

The British fleet under Vice Admiral Robert Calder engaged the combined Franco-Spanish fleet led by French Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve on the 22nd of July 1805. The battle resulted in the capture of two Spanish ships of the line, the Firme and the San Rafael, while causing significant casualties to both sides.

Who commanded the British forces at the Battle of Cape Finisterre 1805?

Vice Admiral Robert Calder commanded the British fleet that intercepted the enemy near Cape Finisterre on the 22nd of July 1805. Captain Alan Gardner led the vanguard with the ship Hero, and Sir Edward Buller commanded the Malta which fought a fierce engagement against five Spanish ships.

When did Napoleon order the Armée d'Angleterre to leave Boulogne after the Battle of Cape Finisterre?

Napoleon ordered the army to leave Boulogne on the 27th of August 1805 following the failure of the naval campaign. This withdrawal marked the abandonment of his plan to invade Britain entirely as the fleet could not reach Brest.

What were the casualty figures for the Battle of Cape Finisterre 1805?

The British lost no ships but suffered 41 officers and men killed and 162 wounded during the action. The Franco-Spanish side endured 476 officers and men killed or wounded while over 1,200 sailors and marines were taken prisoner.

Where did Pierre-Charles Villeneuve take his fleet after the Battle of Cape Finisterre 1805?

Villeneuve took his damaged fleet to A Coruña on the 1st of August 1805 before receiving orders from Napoleon to proceed to Brest. He instead returned to Cádiz arriving on the 21st of August where the combined squadron remained until their destruction at the Battle of Trafalgar on the 21st of October 1805.