Battle of Cape St. Vincent, 14th February 1797

On February 14th, Admiral Sir John Jervis, with 15 naval ships of the line was sailing 25 miles off Cape St Vincent off the coast of Portugal when he encountered 27 Spanish ships under the command of Don Jose de Cordoba sailing from Cadiz. Without waiting for orders Commander Horatio Nelson turned round to lead the attack against the larger Spanish fleet. After the battle the Spanish had lost 4 ships and 3,000 prisoners were taken without the loss of any British warship and only 300 casualties. This naval victory made Sir John Jervis, Earl of St Vincent and Nelson a Knight of the Bath.