Background
Nelson wanted a pre-emptive show of force, but was overruled by Parker and demands were made by a single frigate. The Dano-Norwegians refused to negotiate.
Parker had given Nelson twelve ships-of-the line, those with the shallowest drafts, and all the smaller ships in the fleet and he stayed with the remainder of the fleet to the north-east of the battle, screening it from external interference and moving towards Copenhagen to engage the northern defences. One of Nelson's ships, the Glatton, was commanded by William Bligh of Bounty fame. Nelson's plan was for the British ships to approach the weaker, southern end of the Danish defences in a line parallel to the Danish one. As the foremost ship drew alongside a Danish ship, it would anchor and engage that ship. The remainder of the line would pass outside until the next ship drew alongside the next Danish ship, and so on. The frigate Desiree with small gun-brigs would rake the Danish line from the south, and a force of frigates, commanded by Captain Riou of the Amazon, would attack the northern end of the line. The Tre Kroner fortress would be assaulted with troops once the Danish line of ships had been subdued. where she was added to the Royal Navy and renamed HMS Nassau. According to the official returns recorded by each British ship, and repeated in dispatches from Nelson and forwarded by Parker to the Admiralty, British casualties were 264 killed and 689 wounded.

Battle
The next day, Nelson landed in Copenhagen to open negotiations. Colonel Stewart, reported that "the population showed an admixture of admiration, curiosity and displeasure". In a two-hour meeting with the Crown Prince (who spoke English), As a result of the battle, Lord Nelson was created Viscount Nelson of the Nile.
This was not to be the end of Dano-Norwegian conflict with the British. In 1807 similar circumstances led to another British attack, in the Second Battle of Copenhagen.

Aftermath
Even though the political importance of the battle nullified by a changed political scene after the death of Russian Tsar Paul, together with the fact that material losses in the battle were of little importance to the fighting strength of the both navies (the Danish side had taken great care to spare its first class ships), the battle is nevertheless still remembered on the Danish side the battle for the extraordinary valour and courage that the Navy's personal and the many Copenhagen volunteers fought with for hours against overwhelming odds. The Danish accounts of the battle also emphasise the gallantry and "gentleman-like behaviour" of the British, and in particular Nelson who is portrayed as true gentleman and a noble warrior.

The Legacy of the battle in Denmark

Ships involved
Polyphemus 64 (Captain John Lawford) Isis 50 (Captain James Walker) Edgar 74 (Captain George Murray) Ardent 64 (Captain Thomas Bertie) Glatton 54/56 (Captain William Bligh) Elephant 74 (flag of Vice-Adm. Lord Nelson, Captain Thomas Foley) Ganges 74 (Captain Thomas Francis Fremantle) Monarch 74 (Captain James Robert Mosse) Defiance 74 (2nd flag of Rear-Adm. Thomas Graves, Captain Richard Retalick) Russell 74 (Captain William Cuming) Bellona 74 (Captain Thomas Boulden Thompson) Agamemnon 64 (Captain Robert Devereux Fancourt) Désirée 36 (Captain Henry Inman) Amazon 32/38 (Captain Henry Riou) Blanche 36 (Captain Graham Eden Hamond) Alcmène 32 (Captain Samuel Sutton) Jamaica 24 (Captain Jonas Rose) Arrow (ship-sloop, Captain William Bolton) Dart (ship-sloop, Captain John Ferris Devonshire) Cruizer (brig-sloop, Cmdr. James Brisbane) Harpy (brig-sloop, Cmdr. William Birchall) Discovery (bomb, Cmdr. John Conn) Explosion (bomb, Cmdr. John Henry Martin) Hecla (bomb, Cmdr. Richard Hatherhill) Sulphur (bomb, Cmdr. Hender Whitter) Terror (bomb, Cmdr. Samuel Campbell Rowley) Volcano (bomb, Cmdr. James Watson) Zebra (bomb, Cmdr. Edward Sneyd Clay) Otter (fireship, Cmdr. George M'Kinley) Zephyr (fireship, Cmdr. Clotworthy Upton) London 98 (flag of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, with 1st Captain William Domett and 2nd Captain Robert Walker Otway) St George 98 (Captain Thomas Masterman Hardy) Warrior 74 Captain Charles Tyler) Defence 74 (Captain Henry Paulet) Saturn 74 (Captain Robert Lambert) Ramillies 74 (Captain James William Taylor Dixon) Raisonnable 64 (Captain John Dilkes) Veteran 64 (Captain Archibald Collingwood Dickson)
Denmark-Norway