the new french republic had declared war on the kingdom of great britain on 1 february 1793, following years of rising tension. the british immediately laid preparations for the deployment of a large fleet to the mediterranean sea, in order to enact a blockade on the french mediterranean fleet based at toulon. the british mediterranean fleet was dispatched in a series of divisions during the spring, led by vice-admiral lord hood, and numbered 21 ships of the line and associated frigates. among this force was the 64-gun small ship of the line hms "agamemnon", under the command of captain horatio nelson. hood's fleet entered the mediterranean at the end of june 1793, and on arriving off toulon found the french naval base in open revolt against the jacobin national convention. hood negotiated the surrender of the port and the french fleet, landing substantial troops and stores to defend it from french republican counterattack.