1797 Nelson's Year of Destiny Author:Colin White It was at the Battle of Cape St Vincent on 14 February 1797, when the Royal Navy won a great victory over the Spanish, that Nelson first came to public fame. Five months later in the attack on Santa Cruz on 22-25 July he suffered a bloody defeat at the hands of the Spanish and lost an arm. These two events, one a success the other a humiliating ... more »failure, played a key role in shaping Nelson's character and style as a leader. Taken together they mark a significant turning point in his life. In this new and provocative work, Colin White draws together recent research and new discoveries into a comprehensive and enthralling narrative account that places the two battles in their strategic and political contexts. He has uncovered previously overlooked contemporary accounts of both battles and has concluded that the traditional British accounts of both battles need careful reassessment. Specially drawn plans for both battles incorporate this new information. The narrative is interspersed with more reflective sections in which new evidence is analysed and compared against the traditional accounts, and where the particular significance of the events for Nelson are highlighted.« less