the Battle of Copenhagen
/ðə ˌbætl əv ˌkəʊpənˈheɪɡən/
/ðə ˌbætl əv ˈkəʊpənheɪɡən/
- a sea battle (1801) between the navies of Britain and Denmark during the Napoleonic Wars. Nelson was in charge of a group of ships attacking the Danish ships in Copenhagen harbour. It is a well-known story in Britain that Nelson was sent a signal ordering him to leave the battle, but he put his telescope to his blind eye and said that he could not see the signal. His ships stayed where they were, and won the battle.