battle of copenhagen 1801battle of copenhagen 1801

Battle of Copenhagen, 1801 - YouTube The battle came about over British fears that the powerful Danish fleet would ally with France, and a breakdown in diplomatic communications on both sides. Next day, which was Good Friday, Nelson went ashore to be received at a state dinner by Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark. File:Battle of Copenhagen (1801).jpg - Wikimedia Commons By 4:00 PM, after further negotiations, a 24-hour ceasefire was agreed upon. File : The Battle of Copenhagen 1801 by Christian Mlsted.jpg According to British eyewitness accounts, much of the Danish line had fallen silent by 2:00 pm. Battle of Copenhagen | Summary | Britannica Two hours later Parker made a signal to discontinue the action. The captain of Amazon, Captain Riou, impressed him most favourably and Nelson resolved to give him a leading role in the attack. [citation needed], On 12 April, Parker sailed to Karlskrona and on the British approach, the Swedish fleet returned to the port where Parker attempted to persuade them to also leave the League. Danish prisoners were also paroled. Nelson, in Elephant (Captain Foley, 74 guns), took the anchorage allocated to Bellona, with Ganges (Captain Freemantle, 74 guns) and Monarch (Captain Moss, 74 guns) anchoring immediately in front of Elephant. The Danish fleet surrendered to Britain after Copenhagen was bombarded. The first discharge, loaded before action began, was always the most effective. [citation needed] In a two-hour meeting with the Crown Prince (who spoke English),[7] Nelson was able to secure an indefinite armistice. The Battle of Copenhagen of 1801 , also known as the First Battle of Copenhagen to distinguish it from the Second Battle of Copenhagen in 1807, was a naval battle in which a British fleet fought and defeated a smaller force of the Dano-Norwegian Navy anchored near Copenhagen on 2 April 1801. As a result, Nelson, whose ability and skill St Vincent recognised was more suited to quick decisive action rather than high office, was transferred to HMS St George, a 98-gun ship on 1 February 1801 for service in the Baltic. Number 39, to leave off action! (These ships did not see action), All those listed in the Inner Run, apart from Elephanten [27] which was decommissioned later in 1801 and apparently used as a blockship and a powder store (Karduser), were captured by the British at the later Battle of Copenhagen (1807)[28]. The alliance was deemed dangerous to Britain as it could prevent the supply of vital naval stores and timber on which the Royal Navy was dependent. [7] In the end Nelson was able to persuade Sir Hyde to attack the Danish fleet currently concentrated off Copenhagen. Nelson was allowed three days leave, 23-25 February 1801, when he met his daughter for the first time. The Second Battle of Copenhagen (or the Bombardment of Copenhagen) (16 August - 7 September 1807) was a British bombardment of the Danish capital, Copenhagen, in order to capture or destroy the Dano-Norwegian fleet during the Napoleonic Wars. HMSMonarch suffered badly from the combined fires of Holsteen and Sjlland. The British could not spare men for manning prizes as they suspected that further battles were to come. No ship in Nelsons division acted on Parkers signal, except Captain Rious squadron, attacking the Trekroner Fortress. The British viewed the League to be very much in the French interest and a serious threat. He[who?] After a conference in Parkers flagship, the London, on the 31st, the buoying work was completed and on April 1st Nelson in infectiously high spirits entertained his captains to dinner in Elephant. On land, it contributed to the capture of Bremen in 1805 and the Second Battle of Copenhagen in 1807. The Battle of Copenhagen, 2 April 1801 RMG BHC0528.tiff 3,800 2,234; 24.29 MB. Admiral Lord Nelson puts the telescope to his blind eye at the Battle of Copenhagen on 2nd April 1801 in the Napoleonic Wars. It falls in the category of NGS clasps approved because a commissioned officer was promoted, as opposed to it being a Gold Medal action. The Royal Navy searched neutral ships trading with French ports, seizing their cargoes if they were deemed to be trading with France. Converted to .jpg and reduced to two colours. Ships and Armaments at the Battle of Copenhagen: Life on a sailing warship of the 18th and 19th Century, particularly the large ships of the line, was crowded and hard. British captains were responsible for recruiting their ships crew. Discipline was enforced with extreme violence, small infractions punished with public lashings. I have a right to be blind sometimes and raising a spyglass to his right eye added I really do not see the signal (Hibbert, page 261). Approaching the King's Channel, HMS Agamemnon (74) ran around on the Middle Ground Shoal. Kennedy Hickman is a historian, museum director, and curator who specializes in military and naval history. When accounts of the Battle of Copenhagen reached England, Parker was replaced by Nelson as commander-in-chief, due to the formers inactivity and unsuitability for command in the recent campaign. Some of these captains, whom he called his band of brothers, had fought with him at Aboukir Bay. The battle sealed Nelsons reputation as Britains foremost naval leader. Nelson's intention was to concentrate on parts of the Danish . On 30 March, the British force passed through the narrows between Denmark and Sweden, sailing close to the Swedish coast to put themselves as far from the Danish guns as possible; fortunately for the British, the Swedish batteries remained silent. Visit our dedicated Podcast page or visit Podbean below. In the days after the battle, Nelson was able negotiate a fourteen-week armistice during which the League would be suspended and the British given free access to Copenhagen. Fischer's line was also protected by the Middle Ground Shoal which separated the King's Channel from the Outer Channel. They reopened negotiationswith eventual successand were aided by the news that Czar Paul of Russia had been assassinated; his successor Alexander was known to be more pro-British. Anecdotes and traditions from the Battle of Copenhagen: The letter Admiral Lord Nelson sent to the Crown Prince of Denmark at the Battle of Copenhagen on 2nd April 1801 in the Napoleonic Wars, Captain Bligh being cast adrift after the Mutiny on the Bounty in 1789: Bligh commanded HMS Gratton at the Battle of Copenhagen on 2nd April 1801 in the Napoleonic Wars, Dinner in the wardroom of HMS Elephant the night before the Battle of Copenhagen on 2nd April 1801 in the Napoleonic Wars: picture by Thomas Davidson, Naval General Service medal 1793-1840 with Copenhagen clasp and badge of the 95th Rifles: Battle of Copenhagen on 2nd April 1801 in the Napoleonic Wars. As the British ships entered the harbour of the Danish fleet, several of its ships took up station in the city's inlet, forming a blockade. Believing that Nelson would ignore it if the situation warranted, Parker thought he was giving his subordinate an honorable reprieve. The Prussians had only minimal naval forces and also could not assist. He received this news in mid-June 1801 whilst off Copenhagen. Copyright 2023 History Today Ltd. Company no. Nelson wrote to St Vincent on 9 April 1801, saying just returned from getting the armistice ratified. The Danes lost 790 men killed, 900 men wounded and 2,000 made prisoner. Tweet List of the British ships of the line in Lord Nelson's Squadron at the battle of Copenhagen. Parker gave Nelson the twelve ships-of-the-line with the shallowest drafts, and all the smaller ships in the fleet. Riou, expecting that Nelson would call off the assault, turned his ship to begin the withdrawal. He turned to his flag captain, Thomas Foley, and said "You know, Foley, I only have one eye I have the right to be blind sometimes," and then, holding his telescope to his blind eye, said "I really do not see the signal! Nelson was now free from active duty for 19 months. In early 1801, Britain faced a coalition of northern European states, masterminded by France, combined in hostile neutrality against Britain, the Northern Confederation. [citation needed], Nelson's plan was for the British ships to approach the weaker, southern end of the Danish defences in a line parallel to the Danish one. These ships did not see action, the list is incomplete. Nelson offered a truce, which the Danish commander accepted, and the action was over by 4pm. Questions or concerns? responded Nelson, and turning to his interpreter said "Tell him that we are ready in a moment; ready to bombard this very night!" The French did not lose one boat and suffered few casualties. Promised naval support for the Danes from Karlskrona, in Sweden, did not arrive, perhaps because of adverse winds. Aboard Elephant, Nelson was stunned to see the signal and ordered it acknowledged, but not repeated. The British fleet was under the command of Admiral Hyde Parker, with Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson as second-in-command. These seven were listed by Nelson on 2 May 1801 with his numbering of actual gun ports in bold:[26], Fischer's division in the Inner Run [23] The armistice was reduced to fourteen weeks, but during it armed neutrality would be suspended and the British were to have free access to Copenhagen. Around 1:30, thinking that Nelson had been fought to a standstill but was unable to retreat without orders, Parker ordered the signal for "break off action" hoisted. "Renew hostilities!" The Danes refused, and hostilities began. He holds degrees in history and war studies from Oxford University and London University. French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802) Maps and prints of naval engagements collected by George III Riou withdrew his force, which was then attacking the Tre Kroner fortress, exposing himself to heavy fire, which resulted in his death and the deaths of several crew members onboard Amazon. This contribution has not yet been formally edited by Britannica. Warships carried their main armament in broadside batteries along the sides. Nelson turned to Colonel Stewart, commanding the contingent of soldiers carried in the fleet, and said Do you know whats shown on board of the commander in chief? Lord Nelson has directions to spare Denmark when she is no longer resisting, but if firing is continued on the part of Denmark, Lord Nelson will be obliged to set on fire the floating batteries he has taken, without having the power of saving the brave Danes who have defended them. Nelson sailed eastwards again and, leaving six ships-of-the-line at Karlskrona, he arrived at Reval on 14 May to find that the ice had melted and the Russian fleet had departed for Kronstadt. The carnage in their ships was dreadful, with many of them on fire, and the Danish flagship blew up. Copenhagen, battle of, 1801. This resulted in the dissolution of the League of Armed Neutrality and allowed the Danes to accept British terms. Summarize this article for a 10 years old. Captain Thesiger, a British officer with extensive experience of the Baltic Sea from service in the Russian navy, went ashore with correspondence from Nelson to the Danish Crown Prince, inviting an armistice. Battle of Copenhagen 1801: 49th Foot - Orders & Medals Society of America Troops would land and assault the Tre Kroner fortress once the fleet had subdued the Danish line of ships. This gave Denmark time to assess how their defeat and declaration of an armistice affected their allies. Indfdsretten resumed firing after Captain Schrodersee was ferried to it and took command of the ship. The incident with the signal became an important part of the Nelson legend. I've previously written a blog (click link to view it) on the medals issued by Denmark for the defense of Copenhagen at Nelson's famous battle on April 2nd 1801. (of 2) The Embodiment of the Sea Power of Great Britain, Nelson's dispatch to Parker about the battle, Account including maps of the Battle of Copenhagen, Great Britain's unprovoked assault on the neutral Danish-Norwegian kingdom, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Copenhagen_(1801)&oldid=1160824859, Naval battles of the French Revolutionary Wars, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2014, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from April 2014, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2008, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from April 2014, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from May 2009, Articles needing additional references from April 2014, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, Sea Battery Lynetten - unknown number of guns, Land battery Sixtus - unknown number of guns, Land battery Quintus - unknown number of guns, Fortress Kastellet - unknown number of guns, This page was last edited on 19 June 2023, at 01:12. The Danish ships at the Battle of Copenhagen were moored to the jetties. North of the fort, in the entrance to Copenhagen harbour, were two ships-of-the-line, a large frigate, and two brigs, all rigged for sea, and two more hulks. However, this ran the risk of allowing an opportunity for the Armed Neutralitys ships to combine forces. Nelson ordered that the signal be acknowledged, but not repeated. Battle of Copenhagen | 1801 | - YouTube News in September 1801 of Emma having found them a house in Merton, Surrey, lifted his spirits. Wishing to maintain their blockade of the French coast and concerned about losing access to Scandinavian timber and naval stores, Britain immediately began preparing to take action. Nelsons British Fleet sails up the Royal Channel to attack the Danish Fleet and the Trekroner Citadel (The three British ships aground to the right are Bellona, Russell and Agamemnon): Battle of Copenhagen on 2nd April 1801 in the Napoleonic Wars: picture by John Thomas Serres. Parker, in fact, had expected Nelson to ignore the order if he judged it right to continue the action. As a result of this failure and his forced separation from Emma, Nelson plunged into depression, I am in silent distraction. Diplomatic attempts to persuade Denmark to abandon the Armed Neutrality failed. [16][note 4] The cessation of firing left the way open for the British bomb vessels to approach Copenhagen. Nelson would take his division into the channel outside Copenhagen Harbour, and, sailing northwards up the channel, attack the Danish warships moored along the bank, until he reached the largest ships moored by the powerful Danish fortress of Trekroner, at the entrance to Copenhagen Harbour. Captain Thesiger Royal Navy goes ashore with Nelsons letter to the Danish Crown Prince Frederick at the Battle of Copenhagen on 2nd April 1801 in the Napoleonic Wars: picture by C.A. The first Battle of Copenhagen was fought in 1801 between the fleets of Great Britain and Denmark. Updates? This battle shared many similarities with those faced by Nelson at Aboukir Bay. Battle of Copenhagen (1801) - Wikipedia @ WordDisk #RoyalNavy #Nelson #DanishNavy . The guns of the dozen southernmost Danish ships had started to fall silent owing to the damage they had sustained, and the fighting moved northward. Winner of the Battle of Copenhagen:The British Fleet. Can you list the top facts and stats about Battle of Copenhagen (1801)? Denmark did manage to capture some British merchant ships, and Britain had to convoy and escort its Baltic trade. Despatch by Nelson to Sir Hyde Parker 3 April 1801 about the Battle of Copenhagen. Nelsons signal officer, seeing the flagships message, queried whether the commander-in-chiefs signal should be repeated to the other ships, to which Nelson directed that only an acknowledgement was to be flown, while signal 16, the order for close action, be maintained. https://www.thoughtco.com/battle-of-copenhagen-2361179 (accessed June 28, 2023). The Battle of Copenhagen 1801 : Nelson and the Danes - Google Books These articles have not yet undergone the rigorous in-house editing or fact-checking and styling process to which most Britannica articles are customarily subjected. Perhaps because of inexperienced crews, several Danish ships fired on British boats sent out to them after their officers had signalled their surrender. English: The Battle of Copenhagen, as painted by Nicholas Pocock. Battle of Copenhagen on 2nd April 1801 in the Napoleonic Wars. The Danes agreed to the British terms upon hearing news of the assassination of Tsar Paul I of Russia, as his death meant the end of the Russian-led League of Armed Neutrality of which Denmark was a member. Recently married to a young wife, the 64-year old Parker dithered in port and was only coaxed to sea by a personal note from First Lord of the Admiralty Lord St. Vincent. As the British ships entered the harbour of the Danish fleet, several of its ships took up station in the city's inlet, forming a blockade. He arrived in Yarmouth on 1 July 1801 to find Britain gripped by an invasion scare. File:PocockBattleOfCopenhagen.jpg - Wikimedia Commons Great efforts were made by British crews to rescue the sailors of foundering Danish ships at the end of the Battle of Copenhagen. By about 3pm the Danes were almost overwhelmed. HMS Elephant Admiral Lord Nelsons flagship at the Battle of Copenhagen on 2nd April 1801 in the Napoleonic Wars. On Nelsons return to England and appearance at court, King George III did not mention the battle. About 1.30 in the afternoon, when a cannon ball struck splinters off Elephants mainmast, Nelson remarked that it was warm work, but he would not be elsewhere for thousands of pounds. No British ship was lost. In the spring of 1801, a fleet was formed at Great Yarmouth under Admiral Sir Hyde Parker with the purpose of breaking up the alliance before the Baltic Sea thawed and released the Russian fleet. Admiral Nelson forcing the Passage of the Sound before the Battle of Copenhagen on 2nd April 1801 in the Napoleonic Wars: picture by Robert Dodd. I have a right to be blind sometimes. Nelson then raised his telescope to his blind eye and said I really do not see the signal.. There was some apprehension about how the people of Copenhagen would treat him, but he was greeted with what one of his party described as an admixture of admiration, curiosity and displeasure. To the north, Captain Edward Riou of HMS Amazon was to lead several frigates against the Tre Kroner and land troops once it had been subdued. Seeking to end the fighting, Nelson dispatched Captain Sir Frederick Thesiger ashore with a note for Crown Prince Frederik calling for a cessation of hostilities. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). ThoughtCo. Lord Nelson, with humble duty to His Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark, will consider this the greatest victory he has ever gained, if it may be the cause of a happy reconciliation and union between his own most gracious Sovereign, and His Majesty the King of Denmark. Britain also had valuable trading interests in the Baltic, which was a vital source of naval supplies. Losses: Danish, 2,0003,000 dead, 60 ships captured; British, 200 dead or wounded. First Battle of Copenhagen; Part of War of the Second Coalition: The Battle of Copenhagen, as painted by Nicholas Pocock. I am tired to death. If you are too busy to read the site, why not download a podcast of an individual battle and listen on the move! Men were taken wherever they could be found, largely by the press gang. Browse 72 BATTLE OF COPENHAGEN (1801) photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. The Battle of Copenhagen of 1801 (Danish: Slaget p Reden), also known as the First Battle of Copenhagen to distinguish it from the Second Battle of Copenhagen in 1807, was a naval battle in which a British fleet fought and defeated a smaller force of the Dano-Norwegian Navy anchored near Copenhagen on 2 April 1801. The Battle of Copenhagen, 2 April 1801 RMG BHC0529.tiff 7,200 5,082; 104.69 MB. Omissions? Unready to put to sea, he anchored his ships along with several hulks in the King's Channel, near Copenhagen, to form a line of floating batteries. Though the Danes offered heavy resistance and were able to shuttle reinforcements from the shore, superior British gunnery slowly began to turn the tide. Donald Sommerville is a writer and editor specializing in military history. This picture shows the scene on the Danish ship Gerner Radeau. Britain and Denmark were not formally at war, but the British fleet had sailed to deter the Danes and Swedes from allying themselves with the French. The Danish commander, Commodore Olfert Fischer, moved from Dannebrog at 11:30 am, when it caught fire, to Holsteen. Lacking charts, Captain Thomas Hardy spent the night of March 31 covertly taking soundings near the Danish fleet. which was sent back to the Crown Prince. 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 . Nelson arrived too late to stop this union. War: Napoleonic Wars. [19], After fighting had ended, the Danish flagship Dannebrog exploded at 4:30 pm, killing 250 men. The Battle of Copenhagen | History Today Battle of Copenhagen | Summary | Britannica [11] Should the British be unable to subdue the stronger, northern defences, the destruction of the southern ships would be enough to allow the bomb vessels to approach within range of the city and force negotiations to prevent the bombardment of the city. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. On the night of 1st April 1801, Nelson drafted his final plans and briefed his officers, while Captain Hardy ventured right up to the Danish ships in a long boat and took soundings; the pilots placing the last of the buoys. "Napoleonic Wars: Battle of Copenhagen." 72 BATTLE OF COPENHAGEN (1801) Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images Soon much of the city was in flames, and the Danes, suffering heavy civilian casualties, were forced to surrender on September 7. At 8am on 2nd April 1801, the assault began, with His Majestys Ship Edgar (Captain Murray, 74 guns) leading the division from its anchorage and tacking from the Outer Deep into the Royal Passage. The Battle of Copenhagen on April 2nd, 1801 is commemorated on the British side by a clasp to the Naval General Service Medal 1793-1840 (NGS), issued in 1849. [3] It was the second attempt by the British to try to prevent a Franco-Danish alliance, as the British had already entered resund with a fleet in August 1800, in order to persuade Denmark not to ally with France. [note 1] Nelson transferred his command from the large 98-gun HMSSt George to the shallower 74-gun HMSElephant for this reason. It's an exclusive offer for our viewers: an extended, month-long trial, FREE.. Admiral Parker could see little of the battle owing to gun smoke, but could see the signals on the three grounded British ships, with Bellona and Russell flying signals of distress and Agamemnon a signal of inability to proceed. Nelson was given 12 ships-of-the-line to carry out the attack. Just before the Battle of Copenhagen, on 24th March 1801, the Tsar of Russia, Paul I, was murdered by members of the St Petersburg court, and replaced by his anti-French son, Alexander I. The attack on Copenhagen, considered essential by the British to prevent the Danish Fleet from acting in the French interests, caused great resentment against Britain in Denmark. While his ships were fighting, Nelson planned for his small flotilla of bomb vessels to approach and fire over his line to strike the Danes. The British ships anchored by the stern about a cable from the line of Danish ships and batteries, which was relatively long range, and the two exchanged broadsides until a ship ceased firing. Estimates vary between 1,135 and 2,215 captured, killed or wounded. The great weight of guns and equipment and the necessity to climb rigging in adverse weather conditions frequently caused serious injury. Corrections? Battle of Copenhagen, note the ships are turning to fire a broadside salvo on enemy ships Summary [ edit ] Nicholas Pocock : The Battle of Copenhagen, 2 April 1801 The Battle of Copenhagen 1801 by Christian Molsted. Fearing an alliance between Denmark and France, Britain sent a fleet of more than fifty ships to form a blockade off Great Yarmouth to prevent collaboration and ensure . [22] At this point Stewart claims that one of the Danes turned to another and said in French that disagreement might lead to a renewal of hostilities. The Battle of Copenhagen was fought on April 2, 1801, and was part of the War of the Second Coalition (1799-1802). The Battle of Copenhagen of 1801 (Danish: Slaget p Reden), also known as the First Battle of Copenhagen to distinguish it from the Second Battle of Copenhagen in 1807, was a naval battle in which a British fleet fought and defeated a smaller force of the Dano-Norwegian Navy anchored near Copenhagen on 2 April 1801. Defiance (Rear Admiral Graves Flagship: Captain Retalick, 74 guns) and Elephant went aground and the Danish Flagship, Dannebroge (Captains Fischer and Braun, 80 guns), grounded and blew up, with substantial casualties. Ships carried a variety of smaller weapons on the top deck and in the rigging, from swivel guns firing grape shot or canister (bags of musket balls) to hand held muskets and pistols, each crew seeking to annihilate the enemy officers and sailors on deck. was asked to put it in writing, which he did, in English, while making the joke: If your guns are not better pointed than your pens, then you will make little impression on Copenhagen. Parker was then in favour of imposing British terms by blockading the Baltic. [note 5]. On March 23, after a council of war, Nelson was able to secure permission to attack the Danish fleet which had concentrated at Copenhagen. Battle of Copenhagen on 2nd April 1801 in the Napoleonic Wars: picture by Nicholas Pocock, The previous battle of the Napoleonic Wars is the Battle of Alexandria, The next battle of the Napoleonic Wars is the Battle of Trafalgar,
Home / French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802) / War of the Second Coalition (Nov 1798-Mar 1802) / Battle of Copenhagen, 1801 To EARL SPENCER, &c. &c. The Admirals, Captains, Officers, Seamen, Soldiers & Marines, of H.M. BALTIC FLEET, / that so bravely defended their Country's right before COPENHAGEN, April 2.d 1801, this Plate is most. My dearest wife, how can I bear our separation? To the north, Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, the British commander-in-chief, witnessed with increasing anxiety the heavy bombardment, as the large ships of the line in his squadron beat slowly down the channel, the wind fair for Nelson but contrary for them. Nelson's desire for an immediate and direct attack on Copenhagen. The Battle of Copenhagen, 2 April 1801 RMG BHC0526.tiff 4,656 3,077; 40.99 MB. Nelson in the Elephant heads part of the English squadron on the left. The British needed to act before the Baltic Sea thawed and released the Russian fleet from its bases at Kronstadt and Reval (now Tallinn). Hickman, Kennedy. List of British frigates in Lord Nelson's Squadron Ships in Admiral Parker's Squadron at the battle of Copenhagen Taken from Clowes, W. L.,