The French had anchored accross Aboukir Bay in a line, ready to engage the British if they attacked, they had anchored leaving no room for British ships to get around either end of the line. Nelson’s plan was for the British to peel off one on one in a line on the seaward side of the French van – Captain Thomas Foley, on HMS Goliath (74 guns), leading the British line, noticed an unexpected gap as he approached, between “Guerrier” (74 guns) and the shallow shoal. On his own initiative Foley decided to exploit this tactical error and changed his approach to sail through the gap raking the Frenchman’s bow and turned to pass down the unprepared portside of Guerrier firing as he went. Followed through the gap by HMS Zealous (74 Guns) and 3 more British ships of the line. The French were unprepared and took heavy losses, Nelson’s Ship arrived 6th in line and added more fire to the beleaguered French line from the seaward side as planned - the rest is history so to speak.

How I painted it

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