Topic
Cape Finisterre, Battle of
In the Battle of Cape Finisterre (22 July 1805) off Galicia, Spain, the British fleet under Admiral Robert Calder fights an indecisive naval battle against the Combined Franco-Spanish fleet that is returning from the West Indies.
Calder fails to prevent the joining of Villeneuve's fleet to the squadron of Ferrol and to strike the shattering blow that would have freed Great Britain from the dange of an invasion.
Calder is later court-martialed and severely reprimanded for his failure and for avoiding the renewal of the engagement on 23 and 24 July.