In January 1801 he was sent to the Baltic as second in command under Sir Hyde Parker.  Russia, Denmark, and Sweden had founded a confederacy for making England resign her naval rights, and the British Cabinet decided instantly to crush it.  The fleet sailed on March 12; Nelson represented to Sir Hyde Parker the necessity of attacking Copenhagen; and on April 2 the British vessels opened fire on the Danish fleet and land batteries.  The Danes, in return, fought their guns manfully, and at one o’clock, after three hours’ endurance, Sir Hyde Parker gave the signal for discontinuing action.  Nelson ordered that signal to be acknowledged, but continued to fly the signal for close action.  “You know, Foley,” he said, turning to the captain of the ship, “I have only one eye; I have a right to be blind sometimes!” Then, putting the glass to his blind eye, in the mood that sports with bitterness, he exclaimed, “I really do not see the signal.  Keep mine for closer battle flying!  That’s the way I answer such signals.  Nail mine to that mast!” Admiral Graves disobeyed in like manner, and the other ships of the line also continued the action.  The victory was soon complete, and Sir Hyde Parker heartily expressed his satisfaction and gratitude.

For the battle of Copenhagen, Nelson was raised to the rank of viscount.  Had he lived long enough, he would have fought his way up to a dukedom.

After holding a command in the English Channel, to watch the preparations which were being made at Boulogne for an invasion of England, Nelson retired on the conclusion of the Peace of Amiens to his estate at Merton, in Surrey, meaning to pass his days there in the society of Sir William and Lady Hamilton.  Sir William died early in 1803, and, as the government would do nothing for her, Nelson settled on Lady Hamilton a sum equal to the pension of L1,200 a year which her husband had enjoyed.  A few weeks after this event the war was renewed, and the day after his majesty’s message to parliament, Nelson departed to take command of the Mediterranean fleet.

He took his station immediately off Toulon, and there, with incessant vigilance, waited for the coming out of the enemy.  From May 1803 to August 1805 he left the Victory only three times, each time upon the king’s service, and on no occasion for more than an hour.

War having been declared between England and Spain, the Toulon fleet, having the Spaniards to co-operate with them, put to sea on January 18, 1804.  Nelson, who was off Sardinia when he heard the news the next day, sought them in vain through the Mediterranean, until he heard that they had been dispersed by a gale, and had returned to Toulon.  On March 31 they emerged again, and passed out of the Straits of Gibraltar, but the British fleet was kept by adverse winds from reaching the Atlantic till April 5.

The enemy had thirty-five days start on their run to the West Indies, and Nelson, misled by false information, sought them among the islands, until he learned at Antigua on June 9 that they had sailed again for Europe.  He made all speed across the Atlantic, and again sought the enemy vainly, until he joined Admiral Cornwallis off Ushant on August 15.  The same evening he was ordered to proceed with the Victory and Superb to Portsmouth.