Bombardment of Alexandria

The Bombardment of Alexandria, in 1882, by the British Mediterranean Fleet took place on 11–13 July 1882. Admiral Sir Frederick Beauchamp Seymour was in command of a fleet of fifteen Royal Navy ironclad ships which sailed to Alexandria. This move, had the contrary effect of strengthening Urabi's Nationalist position (supported by the army and with Egyptian popular support), and it inflamed popular resentment. This exploded on 11 June in anti-European riots that killed over two-thousand Egyptians and fifty Europeans.

The British hoped that a naval bombardment of Alexandria would topple Urabi. This was done on 11 June 1882, and made Urabi even more of a nationalist hero and put him firmly in control of events. The bombardment lasted 10 and a half hours. Historians argue about whether Admiral Seymour exaggerated the threat from the Egyptian batteries at Alexandria in order to force a reluctant government's hand. Once the British had attacked the city, they proceeded to a land invasion as their next step.