Nelson Wounded at Tenerife, 24 July 1797
Artist: Richard Westall (English, 1765–1836)
Date: 1806
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, United Kingdom
Description
After the Battle of Cape St Vincent, 14 February 1797, Nelson was stationed off Cadiz and was ordered to take possession of the town and harbour of Santa Cruz in Tenerife, where Spanish treasure ships were reported to be lying. He immediately set sail with three ships of the line, three frigates, and a cutter and was joined by a fourth frigate and a bomb vessel en route. After several failed attempts Nelson decided upon a direct assault on Santa Cruz by night, aiming for the central castle of San Cristobal, where the Spanish general staff were based. Nelson commanded the attack, leading one of six divisions of boats, the other five being commanded by Captains Troubridge, Miller, Hood, Waller and Thompson. At 10.30pm on 24 July, the British seamen and marines met around the 'Zealous' where they formed into six divisions and were roped together. With muffled oars they began the two-mile row to the mole. However, the initial boat-landings went wrong when many of them were swept off course and the element of surprise was lost. During his attempt to land Nelson was about to disembark when he was hit just above the right elbow by a musket or similar ball fired as grapeshot, which shattered the bone and joint. The arm was amputated aboard the 'Theseus' that night. The attack ground to a halt and the British force that landed at the harbour negotiated a truce with the Spanish Governor under which they returned to their ships. The Spanish also offered hospital facilities for the wounded.
