a battle fought by English naval admiral, HoratioNelson, in the late 1700s while England was at war with France. The French military leader, Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 - 1821) had been victorious on land and began to gather his fleet together for a naval battle with England. Nelson was sent to watch the French ships at Toulon, a seaport in southeastern France. A storm came up and under itscover the Frenchfleet escaped. Nelson followed it in a long pursuit and finally cornered the Frenchfleet in the Bay of Abukir in northernEgypt, where he attacked and almost destroyed it on 1 August 1798. This engagement cut off Napoleon's army in Egypt and ruined his Egyptiancampaign. He was forced to desert his army in Egypt and had to sneak across the Mediterranean in a tiny ship. This victory made Nelson world-famous. He was made Baron of the Nile and given a large sum of money. See also Nelson in this glossary.—PDC Volume 1 Approved Glossary