Action of 18 August 1798 by Napoleon Bonaparte intended for the invasion of Egypt. The convoy successfully eluded Nelson and the army landed at Alexandria on 31 June, capturing the city and advancing inland. The fleet was too large to anchor in Alexandria harbour and instead Bonaparte ordered its commander, Vice-Admiral François-Paul Brueys D'Aigalliers to take up station in Aboukir Bay. On discovering the French Nelson attacked immediately, ordering his ships to advance on the French line and engage, beginning the Battle of the Nile. As he closed with the French line, Captain Thomas Foley on the lead ship HMS "Goliath" realised that there was
HMS Lady Nelson (1798) driving her back to the north; on 21 June heavy seas resulted in the loss of the "Lady Nelson"s boat. The safety of Twofold Bay was not reached until 24 June by which time all "Lady Nelson"s supply of bread had been consumed and only three casks of water remained. A raft was constructed from her spars in order to get ashore to replenish their supply of fresh water and the "Lady Nelson"s carpenter was sent to cut timber with which to build a punt to replace the lost boat. "Lady Nelson" left Twofold Bay on 1 July to continue