1797Jul, 22
Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Battle between Spanish and British naval forces during the French Revolutionary Wars. During the Battle, Rear-Admiral Nelson is wounded in the arm and the arm had to be partially amputated.
The Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife was an amphibious assault by the Royal Navy on the Spanish port city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Launched by Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson on 22 July 1797, the assault was defeated, and on 25 July the remains of the landing party withdrew under a truce, having lost several hundred men. Nelson himself had been wounded in the arm, which was subsequently partially amputated: a stigma that he carried to his grave as a constant reminder of his failure.
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Events on 1797
- 14Feb
Battle of Cape St Vincent (1797)
French Revolutionary Wars: Battle of Cape St. Vincent: John Jervis, (later 1st Earl of St Vincent) and Horatio Nelson (later 1st Viscount Nelson) lead the British Royal Navy to victory over a Spanish fleet in action near Gibraltar. - 2Mar
Bank of England note issues
The Bank of England issues the first one-pound and two-pound banknotes. - 17Apr
Veronese Easter
Citizens of Verona begin an unsuccessful eight-day rebellion against the French occupying forces. - 12May
Napoleon I of France
War of the First Coalition: Napoleon I of France conquers Venice. - 21Oct
USS Constitution
In Boston Harbor, the 44-gun United States Navy frigate USS Constitution is launched.