An Exact Representation of the Glorious Defeat of the French Fleet off the River Nile, in Egypt
Detailed illustration of the Battle of the Nile, also called the Battle of Aboukir Bay of August 1, 1798 where British Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson's fleet defeated the French Admiral Francois-Paul Brueys fleet. Napoleon Bonaparte planned to invade Egypt in order to constrict Britian's trade routes and threaten its possession of India. In response, the British ordered a reconnaissace and fierce fighting followed eventually leading to a British victory. The highlight of the Battle was when Brueys' L'Orient blew up with most of the ship's company, including the admiral. The Battle was significant in that it elevated British prestige and secured British control of the Mediterranean.
Portraits of the British and French admirals are depicted in roundels surrounded by their respective flags in the left and right upper corners respectively. Furthermore, in the bottom left and right corners, there is a legend that identifies the names of the ships depicted in the engraving that correspond to an alphabetical letter (for the British) or a number (for the French). The British legend on the left lists each ship's commander, number of guns, number of men, the number of men killed and wounded, and the totals of the statistics. The French legend on the bottom right lists the names of the ships, number of guns, number of men, and what happened to the ship (burnt, escaped, sunk, or taken). The highlight of L'Orient's explosion is clearly depicted in the off right center surrounded by a ring of French and British ships.
Printed description: "An Exact Representation of the Glorious Defeat of the French Fleet off the River Nile in Egypt, By Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson over Admiral Brueys Commander in Chief of the French Fleet, who was cut in two by a chain shot in the Engagement August 1st, 1798. Admiral Nelson, for this Gallant Action was made a Peer by the title of Baron of the Nile &c."
"Publish'd Nov. 7th, 1789 by G. Thompson, N 43 Long Lane, West-Smithfield."
