The Battle of Cape Finisterre

On 22 July 1805, the fleets of the opposing sides came into view off the coast of Galicia, Spain. The combined Franco-Spanish fleet was returning from the West Indies, only to be intercepted by Calder's British fleet at Cape Finisterre. In the ensuing battle, the British fleet of ten ships, commanded by Admiral Robert Calder, engaged the fleet of Vice-admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve, who had been joined by six Spanish ships of the line at Cádiz.

In the onset of the battle, Malta, commanded by Sir Edward Buller, found herself surrounded by five Spanish ships. Despite this, Malta held her ground and battered the Spanish ships with her powerful broadsides. The Spanish 80-gun San Rafael was eventually forced to strike at about 20:00. Afterwards, Malta's boats took possession of the Spanish 74-gun Firme. Calder signalled to break-off the action at 20:25, but some ships continued to fire for another hour in the failing light and general confusion.

Daybreak on 23 July found the fleets 27 kilometres (17 mi) apart. Calder was unwilling to attack a second time against superior odds on 23 July, and had to protect the damaged Windsor Castle and Malta with her large captured Spanish prizes. Calder considered the possibility that the previously blockaded fleets at Rochefort and Ferrol might put to sea and effect a junction with Villeneuve’s combined fleet. Accordingly, he declined to attack and headed northeast with his prizes.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons