Cape St Vincent, battle of, 1797. On 14 February 1797, four months after the start of hostilities with Spain, 15 ships under Sir John Jervis met the Spanish fleet of 27 ships off the south-western cape of Portugal. Nelson in Captain broke out of the line to prevent the westerly Spaniards rounding the British rear to reunite with their easterly ships. Captain was fought to a standstill; Nelson then vaulted with boarding parties first into the San Nicolas and then into San Josef: his ‘patent bridge’. In all, four Spaniards were taken.

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