With the outbreak of war, Nelson was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet in May 1803. His role was to prevent the French Mediterranean fleet at Toulon from escaping into the Atlantic.

Nelson received news on 4 April 1805 that part of the French fleet had escaped Toulon, under the command of Vice-Admiral Villeneuve. This tactic was part of Napoleon's plan to lure the British fleet away from the Channel. Villeneuve would sail to the West Indies, hopefully with the British in pursuit, and then return to join with the French Atlantic fleet at Brest. Together, they would clear the Channel for invasion and cover the crossing of Napoleon's army.

Click image to view an animation of the chase. NB You need Flash player to view the animation.Nelson chased Villeneuve to the West Indies. A few days after he arrived, he discovered that Villeneuve, accompanied by a Spanish squadron, was planning to return to Europe. Sending a fast ship back to England to warn the Admiralty, Nelson pursued the French and Spanish ships back across the Atlantic.

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