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Portsmouth (England) is a city in Hampshire, southern England, occupying Portsea Island, and located on the Solent, the channel separating the Isle of Wight and the southern coast of England. Portsmouth is one of the most important naval stations in Great Britain. The city has some commercial wharves, and passenger traffic flows from here to the Continent; aerospace industries are also important to its economy. The Southsea section of the city is a popular seaside resort. Noteworthy structures include the cathedral (mostly 12th century); HMS Victory, the flagship of Admiral Horatio Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar (1805); and the house in which Charles Dickens was born. The University of Portsmouth (founded in 1869; given university status in 1992) is also here. Portsmouth was founded in 1194 by Richard I. In 1496 the Royal Dockyard was established and the world's first dry dock was built here. During World War II, because of its strategic military significance, Portsmouth was damaged by extensive German aerial bombings.
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