service branch of the British Armed Forces
. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service. From the end of the 17th century until well into the 20th century it was the most powerful navy in the world, playing a key part in establishing the British Empire
as the dominant world power
.
After World War II the Royal Navy was replaced by the United States Navy
as the world's foremost naval power.
1707 Scilly naval disaster: four British Royal Navy ships run aground near the Isles of Scilly because of faulty navigation. Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell and thousands of sailors drown.
1801 Battle of Algeciras: the French navy are defeated by the Royal Navy.
1807 The Royal Navy bombards Copenhagen with fire bombs and phosphorus rockets to prevent Denmark from surrendering its fleet to Napoleon.
1810 The Royal Navy seizes Guadeloupe.
1810 Napoleonic Wars: The French Navy defeats the British Royal Navy, preventing them from taking the harbour of Grand Port on Île de France.
1893 The Royal Navy battleship {{HMS|Camperdown|1885|6}} accidentally rams the British Mediterranean Fleet flagship {{HMS|Victoria|1887|6}} which sinks taking 358 crew with her including the fleet's commander, Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon.
1910 Captain David Beatty is promoted to Rear Admiral, and becomes the youngest admiral in the Royal Navy (except for Royal family members), since Horatio Nelson.
1913 Completion of the Royal Navy battlecruiser {{HMS|Queen Mary}}.
1914 World War I: the Royal Navy defeats the German fleet in the Battle of Heligoland Bight.
1914 World War I: the first British Royal Navy defeat of the war with Germany, the Battle of Coronel, is fought off of the western coast of Chile, in the Pacific, with the loss of HMS Good Hope and HMS Monmouth.