Admiral Nelson and Tenerife

It would be fair to say most British tourists visiting the Canary Islands for their holidays, will have no idea there was a battle to capture the island of Tenerife from the Spanish in 1797, in which the British hero Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson lost his right arm.

The Canary Islands, and in particular ports like Santa Cruz de Tenerife, were popular targets for pirates and other rival sea fairing nations.

The islands had become very prosperous after the Spanish conquest and the discovery of the Americas by Columbus in 1492, making them a desirable prize for anyone able to capture them.

In July 1797, Nelson was tasked with capturing Santa Cruz de Tenerife for the British crown from the Spanish, and arrived with a squadron of war ships and over 3000 men. However due to rough seas, poor intelligence and the determined defence by the Canary Islands forces and town’s population, the attempt was a dismal failure.

Read more about the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife 1797

During this attack, Nelson was wounded in his right arm by canon shot and was very lucky to survive serious blood loss. He was taken back aboard one of his ships, where his right arm was amputated.

This was Nelson’s only defeat in an otherwise illustrious career.

Vice Admiral Nelson lost his arm at Tenerife