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April 2.
1453. Mehmed II, Ottoman Emperor, begins his siege of Constantinople. He is a ripe old 21 years of age.
1801. The British destroy the Danish fleet at the Battle of Copenhagen. This naval battle has one of the most amusing quotes in naval history. Vice Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson is tapped to lead the attack against the Dutch. Although well known, Nelson is not yet the reknowned hero and legend. He is, however, already blind in one eye as a result of a prior battle. Overall command of British forces is held by Admiral Sir Hyde Parker.
The Dutch are mostly moored, with some of their order of battle comprised of obsolete or out of service ships that are still yet powerfully armed. Parker gives Nelson a dozen of the lighter draft British ships to approach and attack the Dutch, while Parker stays back with msot of the heavy British forces to prevent any external interference. Three British ships become grounded on the shoals, and are at least temporarily in distress and mostly or entirely out of action.
Unable to see much other than smoke and the signals from the three ships that are out of action, Parker raises his signals to recall Nelson and his fleet. He steadfastly ignores the signal to retreat for some time. The captain of his ship, after a while, calls to Nelson and points to Parker's ship. "Sir, the admiral has signaled for a retreat." Nelson puts the telescope to his blind eye and says "I really cannot see it."
He reputedly tells the Captain "You know, I only have one eye, I'm entitled to be blind sometimes." The battle continues and superior British gunnery tells. The British score a resounding victory and Nelson's legend grows.
1982. In a move of highly questionable wisdom, Argentina invades the Falkland Islands. Unsurprisingly, the British -- former and soon-to-be-restored owners of the islands -- immediately go to war. The real question is why anyone is fighting over a small group of islands mainly populated by sheep.
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