The peace was of short duration, and Britain found herself again in grave danger of invasion. Again naval blockade to keep France’s Atlantic and Mediterranean fleets apart was vital to Britain’s defence. Early in 1805, the French admiral Villeneuve escaped from Toulon and sailed for the West Indies, pursued by Nelson. He was intercepted on his return but refused battle. In October of the same year, Nelson famously caught the enemy fleet off Cape Trafalgar, and outmanoeuvred and annihilated them. A sharp-shooter high in the rigging on the French ship Redoubtable hit Nelson, shattering his spine. His death was one of 1690 losses suffered by his fleet. French losses were 5,860. Victory’s captain, Hardy, brought Nelson, before he died, the news of his success.
Caught in bad weather, Captain Richard King aboard Achille was less certain of the scale of victory, but grateful to have rendered his country service.
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Copy, c1838, made by one of his sisters, of a letter from, Captain Richard King (afterwards Vice-Admiral Sir Richard King, bt), commanding Achille in the Mediterranean, to his father, Sir Richard King, 1730-1806, Admiral. The families were related by marriage: Admiral Sir Charles Cotton’s wife, Philadelphia, was daughter of Sir Joshua Rowley, and one of the King daughters married into the Rowley family.
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Please note: An annotated transcript of King's letter is available as a PDF file: please follow the link in the right-hand column.