Copenhagen, First Battle of

The Battle of Copenhagen sees a British fleet under the command of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker fight and strategically defeat a Danish-Norwegian fleet anchored just off Copenhagen on April 2, 1801.

Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson leads the main attack.

He famously is reputed to have disobeyed Sir Hyde Parker's order to withdraw by holding the telescope to his blind eye to look at the signals from Parker, but Parker's signals had given him permission to withdraw at his discretion; a discretion Nelson declines.

His action in proceeding results in the destruction of many of the Dano-Norwegian ships before a truce is agreed.

Copenhagen is often considered to be Nelson's hardest-fought battle.

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