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With the French army ashore, the fleet anchored in Aboukir Bay, a station northeast of Alexandria, in a formation that its commander, Vice-Admiral François-Paul Brueys D ' Aigalliers, believed established a formidable defensive position.
When Nelson's fleet arrived off Egypt on 1 August and discovered Brueys's dispositions, he ordered an immediate attack, and his ships advanced on the French line.
As they approached, they split into two divisions, one of which cut across the head of the line and passed between the anchored French and the shore while the other engaged the seaward side of the French fleet.
Trapped in a crossfire, the leading French ships were battered into surrender during a fierce three-hour battle, while the centre was able to successfully repel the initial British attack.
As British reinforcements arrived, the centre came under renewed assault, and at 22: 00 the French flagship Orient exploded.
With Brueys dead and his van and centre defeated, the rear division of the French fleet attempted to break out of the bay, but ultimately only two ships of the line and two frigates escaped, from a total of 17 ships engaged.

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