Battle of Cape Finisterre (1805)

Battle of Cape Finisterre
Part of the Trafalgar campaign of the War of the Third Coalition
Admiral Sir Robert Calder's action off Cape Finisterre, 23 July 1805, William Anderson
Date 22 July 1805 Location Off Cape Finisterre, Atlantic Ocean 42°53′39″N 9°16′16″W / 42.8941°N 9.2711°W / 42.8941; -9.2711 Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	France Spain
Commanders and leaders
Robert Calder	Pierre de Villeneuve Federico Gravina
Strength
15 ships of the line 2 frigates 1 lugger 1 cutter	20 ships of the line 7 frigates
Casualties and losses
198 killed and wounded[1]	647 killed and wounded[1] 1,200 captured 2 ships of the line captured[2]
class=notpageimage| Location within Europe

In the Battle of Cape Finisterre (22 July 1805) off Galicia, Spain, the British fleet under Admiral Robert Calder fought an indecisive naval battle against the combined Franco-Spanish fleet which was returning from the West Indies. In the ensuing battle the British captured two Spanish ships of the line, but failed to prevent the joining of French Admiral Pierre de Villeneuve's fleet to the squadron of Ferrol and to strike the shattering blow that would have freed Great Britain from the danger^[3] of an invasion. Calder was later court-martialled and severely reprimanded for his failure and for avoiding the renewal of the engagement on 23 and 24 July. At the same time, in the aftermath Villeneuve elected not to continue on to Brest, where his fleet could have joined with other French ships to clear the English Channel for an invasion of Great Britain.