If every man said to have served in the Battle of Trafalgar actually did, the ships would have sunk.... It's amazing how many ancestors supposedly participated in the most famous naval battle in history, yet according to the British National Archives the actual battle of 1805 involved just 18,000 men and one woman. They've opened up the records in a new online exhibition, which includes details about naval hero Horatio Nelson and the events of the Trafalgar battle. You can also search for a Trafalgar ancestor by name, birth place, age, ship name, rank or rating - the "ordinary seaman" and "able seaman" terms that endure to today. Military service, ship records and details of the men's families are being placed online too, but only a portion of the records are available at this time. The project is ongoing, but searches are free.

Trafalgar Ancestors
British Military Records