File:HMS Captain (74).jpg

HMS Captain

The HMS Captain of 74 guns is depicted here at a pivotal moment in both her, and Lord Nelson's, career. The day was February 7th, 1797 and three bells had just been struck into the afternoon watch. The Battle of Cape St Vincent had just begun and Captain Nelson found himself to the rear of the British line, which had formed a U as the front of the line tacked to engage the rear of the enemy fleet. Directly disobeying the order from Admiral Jervis to "form line ahead and astern of Victory", Captain Nelson broke out of line and manoeuvered HMS Captain straight into the midst of battle, pitching her against, amongst many other ships, the four-decked Santisima Trinidad of 130 guns and the largest ship afloat! Nelson went on to successfully draw the fire of six enemy ships, maintain a steady rate of fire upon the enemy, and board and take both a first-rate and a third-rate in the same boarding! Nelson placed the Captain alongside the San Nicolas, 80, which had run afoul of the San Josef, 114. Nelson himself led the charge to the San Nicolas' quarterdeck, there defeating the enemy's crew and receiving the Spanish Captain's sword. From there he pressed on to the San Josef and succeeded once again in defeating the enemy's crew and forcing her to strike. Lord Nelson was never reprimanded for his disobeyal of orders. Instead, for this gallant action, he was made a Knight of the Bath and became a hero at home. Less than a week later, he was made Rear Admiral of the Blue as he rose ever higher in the Captains' list. No stranger to battle herself, HMS Captain led the British line at the Battle of Genoa two years earlier, then Captained by Samuel Reeve.