Tag Archives: Napoleonic Wars

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On this day: the founding of Nelson’s Column

1844williamhenryfoxtalbotOn the 30th of September, 1840, the first stone of Nelson_s Column, the 52-metre structure in the centre of London_s Trafalgar Square was laid.

Photograph taken by William Henry Fox Talbot in 1843.

On the 30th of September, 1840, the first stone of Nelson’s Column, the 52-metre structure in the centre of London’s Trafalgar Square, was laid.

The column was commissioned to commemorate Admiral Horatio Nelson, who died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

The first stone was laid by Charles Davison Scott, and the completed structure was opened three years later, in 1843.

 

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On this day: the Battle of Morales

The Battle of Morales, part of the Peninsula War over the Iberian Peninsula, was fought on the 2nd of June, 1813.

Considered a victory for the British and a defeat for the French, the battle took place in the region of Toro, Zamora, Spain.

The Peninsula War was part of the larger Napoleonic Wars, and lasted a few days short of six years.

Battle_of_Morales,_2nd_June,_1813;_painted_by_William_Heath,_engraved_by_Thomas_SutherlandThe Battle of Morales Spain 2 June 1813. Between the Duke of Wellington vanguard and the rear gu

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On this day: the Battle of Corunna

death-of-sir-john-moore-at-the-battle-of-corunna-derived-from-an-engraving-by-thomas-sutherland-and-aquatint-by-william-heath-16th-january-1809

The death of Sir John Moore X

Part of the Peninsula War (1807-14), the Battle of Corunna took place in Spain on the 16th of January, 1809.

Fought in Galicia, the battle was between the United Kingdom and France, and concluded with a British victory. However, the battle also paved the way for French occupation of other areas.

The British lost 900 men; the French lost between 600 and 700.

sir_john_moore_by_sir_thomas_lawrencelieutenant-general-sir-john-moore-kb-13-november-1761-16-january-1809-was-a-british-soldier-and-general-also-known-as-moore-of-corunna

Amongst the British dead was Sir John Moore, who was reassured of his victory before he died.

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200 years since the Battle of Waterloo

There will be a million or more history blogs running pieces on the two-hundredth anniversary of Napoleon’s defeat. In fact, some have been blogging about it all year.

I won’t go into details here, but here’s a depiction of the battle, which took place on the 18th of June, 1815, by Irish painter William Sadler II (1782–1839). *

The Battle of Waterloo by Irish painter William Sadler II (1782–1839)

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On this day: The Battle of Quatre Bras in 1815

Fought two days before the Battle of Waterloo, this was one of the most significant and famous battles of the Napoleonic Wars. Between four and five thousand were lost on each side. *

Black Watch at the Battle of Quatre-Bras, 1815, by William Barnes Wollen (1857 – 1936).

Wollen,_Battle_of_Quatre_BrasBlack Watch at the Battle of Quatre-Bras, 1815, by William Barnes Wollen (1857 - 1936).

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On this day: The Duchess of Richmond’s Ball in 1815

The Duchess of Richmond’s famous ball was held in Brussels on the 15th of June, 1815. The following day thousands would be slaughtered in the Battle of Quatre Bras, and then on the eighteenth Napoleon would finally be defeated at Waterloo.

The ball was essentially one last celebration before the final (successful but bloody) attempts to end Napoleon’s power. *

The Duchess of Richmonds famous ball was held in Brussels on the 15th of June 1815. The following day thousands would be slaughtered in the Battle of Quatre Bras.