It was at the Battle of Cape St Vincent on 14 February 1797, when the Royal Navy won a great victory over the Spanish, that Nelson first came to the public eye. Five months later in the attack on Santa Cruz on 22-25 July he suffered a bloody defeat at the hands of the Spanish and lost an arm. These two events - one a success, the other a humiliating failure - played a key role in shaping Nelson's character and style as a leader. Taken together they mark a significant turning point in his life. In this work, the author draws upon recent research and new discoveries to provide a narrative account that places the two battles in their strategic and political contexts.