What if Admiral Nelson, the most famous admiral of the Royal Navy, had died before he had an effect on the navy? Without his leadership, I can see France doing better against Britain in the Napoleonic War. I am actually using this POD for a novel I am writing. It's called Lights of Europe, and in it, less competent naval admirals take over in the Royal Navy. Without any real leaders, the Royal Navy does horrible against the French and Spanish, which climaxes with the Battle of Gibraltar, which effectively knocks Britain out of the Napoleonic Wars in 1801. The remainder of Napoleon's enemies are subdued in short order, with Russia, Prussia, and Austria remaining firm allies. However, tensions begin building with the USA over Florida, which belongs to Spain, due to Native Americans raiding out of Florida into the USA. In 1812, Napoleon launches an invasions on Georgia, using his Grand Army of over 600,000 men, which he divides into groups of three. He expects to be able to finish the war quickly, but is plagued by guerillas, raiders, and such on the way.
He defeats an American Army at the Battle of Wilmington, but takes heavy casualties. He next marches on Mount Vernon, having met little resistance, but is than defeated by Andrew Jackson in the Battle of Mt Vernon, and his Navy has been beaten just off Cuba. Forced to retreat, the other armies he has sent out are recalled, but one is attacked and badly mauled in Tennessee, while another is besieged in New Orleans, and surrenders. Outnumbered, he is forced to go back to Florida, but is trapped by the British, and firmly beaten in the Battle of Tallahassee.
Napoleon is allowed to return to France, but America now has Florida and Cuba, and he dies in 1814, given his poor health. With no heir, a Republican movement that begins reversing some of Napoleons policies, and tries to follow Robespierre's example, and thus is anti-catholic, forcing Protestantism onto the French population, but this backfires in the vassals of France, and results a weakening of French power in Europe. France becomes mainly Protestant. In World War One, France is beaten, and we all know what happens next.
So, any ideas and advice?