In HMS Orion, Saumarez fought at Groix, Cape St Vincent, and the Nile. At Cape St Vincent he helped force Salvador del Mundo to surrender and believed Santísima Trinidad had also struck before escaping; when John Jervis learned that his report had missed part of Saumarez's contribution, he took pains to correct the omission. At the Nile, Orion helped secure the surrenders of Peuple Souverain and Franklin. Saumarez's relationship with Nelson combined respect with frank disagreement: after the Nile, he criticized the friendly-fire risk created by doubling the French line, and the two never served together again. He returned in the 80-gun HMS Caesar, became a rear admiral and baronet, and received the squadron whose watch on Cádiz led directly to the Algeciras campaign.
Chapter · 16:25-20:32
Groix, St Vincent, and the Nile prepared Saumarez for flag command
Repeated fleet combat made Saumarez one of the Royal Navy's most experienced captains before his promotion to rear admiral in 1801.