Villeneuve

Villeneuve, PIERRE CHARLES JEAN BAPTISTE SYLVESTRE DE, Nelson's antagonist at Trafalgar, was born at Valensoles (Basses-Alpes), December 31, 1763, entered the navy in his fifteenth year, and passed as captain at thirty. Captain of division by 1796, he commanded the rear division at the battle of the Nile, and saved his own vessel, the Guillaume Tell, and four others. Vice-admiral in 1804, he next year took command of the Toulon squadron. At Cadiz he was joined by the Spanish fleet under Gravina, and, in order to keep the British fleet from the coasts of Europe, bore away westwards across the Atlantic, reaching the Antilles on 14th May. A month later he sailed back, still pursued by Nelson. At the Azores he fought an undecided battle with Sir Robert Calder, and, unable to reach Brest, again returned to Cadiz, where he was strictly blockaded by Nelson. This completely ruined Napoleon's scheme for the invasion of England, and Villeneuve, knowing that he was about to be superseded, determined to fight Nelson before his successor could arrive at Cadiz. On that memorable day of English glory Villeneuve's flag-ship, the Bucentaure, was dismasted and forced to strike. The admiral lay a prisoner in England till April 1806. On the journey to Paris he stopped at Rennes to learn how the emperor would receive him. On the morning of April 22 he was found dead in bed, with six knife-wounds in his heart. See NELSON.