1806 The Spaniards declare war against Great Britain. Lord Nelson defeats the combined fleets of France and Spain at Trafalgar; takes twenty sail of the line, and is killed in the engagement. Sir R. Strachan takes four French ships of the line, off Cape Ortegal.
1806 Death of William Pitt; his debts discharged at the public expense, and a statue decreed to his memory. Admiral Duckworth captures and destroys five French ships of the line. Sir John Stuart defeats the French under Regnier at Maida in Calabria. Surrender of Buenos Ayres to General Beresford and Sir Home Popham. French squadron of five frigates captured by Sir Samuel Hood. Death of Charles James Fox. Rupture of a negotiation for peace with France, and return of Earl Lauderdale. Recapture of Buenos Ayres by the Spaniards. The slave trade abolished by act of Parliament.
1807 Copenhagen bombarded, and the Danish fleet surrendered to the British, under Lord Cathcart and Admiral Gambier. South America evacuated by the British. The British troops evacuate Egypt. The island of Madeira surrendered to Great Britain in trust for Portugal.
1808 The French prohibit all commerce with Great Britain. Battle of Vimiera in Portugal; the French under Junot defeated by Sir Arthur Wellesley.
1809 The French defeated at the battle of Corunna; Sir John Moore killed. The French fleet in Basque roads destroyed by Lord Cochrane. Senegal surrendered to the British. The battle of Talavera; the French defeated by Sir Arthur Wellesley. The 50th anniversary of the King’s reign celebrated as a jubilee. The French fleet in the Mediterranean defeated by Lord Collingwood.
1810 An attempt made to assassinate the Duke of Cumberland; Sellis, the Duke’s valet, found with his throat cut. Murat’s army in Sicily defeated by General J. Campbell. Battle of Busaco; the French defeated by Lord Wellington. Capture of the Isle of France by the British. This island has ever since remained in the hands of the British. Its other name is Mauritius, famous for Peter Botte Mountain and its fine sugar.
1811 The Prince of Wales appointed Regent. Battles of Barossa, Albuera, &c. in which the French were beaten with great loss. Isle of Java capitulated to the British arms.
1812 Ciudad Rodrigo taken by storm, by Lord Wellington. Right Honorable Spencer Percival, prime minister of Great Britain, assassinated by John Bellingham. Battle of Salamanca, and defeat of the French.
1813 Great battle of Vittoria in Spain, in which Lord Wellington totally defeats the French under Joseph Bonaparte and Marshal Jourdan. Defeat of Marshal Soult, in Spain, with the loss of 15,000 men, by Lord Wellington.