A History of the Royal Navy: Napoleonic Wars

The Napoleonic Wars were the first truly global conflict. The Royal Navy was a key player in the wars and, at the cessation of hostilities, Britain emerged as the only naval power capable of sustained global hegemony. Many of the most iconic battles of this era were fought at sea — from the Battle of the Nile in 1798 to Nelson's momentous victory at Trafalgar in October 1805. This book looks at the history of the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from a wide perspective, examining the strategy, operations and tactics that led to Britain ending the wars in 1815 as the dominant naval force. It examines the logistics of war across a range of operations: battle, blockade, commerce protection and exploration and, by picking out key figures in the narrative, provides a unique view of the 'experience' of conflict across all decks. Through an exploration of the relationship between the Navy, trade and empire, Martin Robson shows the Royal Navy made to Britain's rise to global hegemony through the nineteenth century Pax Britannica.