Which British admiral defeated Napoleon's fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar?

The British admiral who defeated Napoleon's fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar was Horatio Nelson. His Royal Navy victory on 21 October 1805 destroyed the immediate threat of a French invasion of Britain and established Nelson as a national hero.

Trafalgar was fought off the southwest coast of Spain between 27 British ships of the line and a larger combined French and Spanish fleet commanded by Pierre-Charles Villeneuve. Nelson used an unconventional attack in two columns to break the enemy line and isolate sections of the opposing fleet.

The victory was decisive, but Nelson did not survive to celebrate it. He was fatally wounded aboard HMS Victory by a French marksman and died during the battle. His famous signal, “England expects that every man will do his duty,” became part of British naval tradition.