Battle of Alexandria (1801)
| Battle of Alexandria | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the French invasion of Egypt and Syria | |||||||
The Battle of Alexandria Philip James de Loutherbourg, 1802 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| United Kingdom | France | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Ralph Abercromby (DOW) John Hely-Hutchinson John Moore (WIA) Eyre Coote John Doyle John Stuart Sidney Smith (WIA) |
Jacques-François Menou François Lanusse † Jean Reynier Antoine Rampon César Antoine Roize † | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 12,000–14,200 | 10,000–16,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
243 killed 1,253 wounded 32 missing | 1,700–5,000 killed, wounded or missing | ||||||
The Battle of Alexandria (also known as the Battle of Canope) fought on 21 March 1801 between the British and French armies as part of the French invasion of Egypt and Syria. Led by General Sir Ralph Abercromby, the British engaged a French force under Divisional-general Jacques-François Menou near the ruins of Nicopolis, on the narrow spit of land between the Mediterranean Sea and Abukir. The British routed Menou's army after several hours of fierce fighting, though Abercromby was mortally wounded. John Hely-Hutchinson, who replaced Abercromby, led the British army to Alexandria and laid siege to the city, which surrendered in September.