Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson

The Right Honourable Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, KB (September 29 1758 – October 21 1805) was a British admiral who won fame as a leading naval commander. He is famous for his participation in the Napoleonic Wars, most notably in the Battle of Trafalgar, where he lost his life. He became the greatest naval hero in the history of the United Kingdom, eclipsing Admiral Robert Blake in fame. His biography by the poet Robert Southey appeared in 1813, while the wars were still being fought. His love affair with Emma Hamilton, the wife of the British ambassador to Naples is also well known, and he is honoured by the London landmark of Nelson's Column, which stands in Trafalgar Square.

Legacy

Nelson was noted for his considerable ability to inspire and bring out the best in his men, to the point that it gained a name: "The Nelson Touch". Famous even while alive, after his death he was lionized like almost no other military figure in British history (his only peers are the Duke of Marlborough and Nelson's contemporary, the Duke of Wellington). Nelson was included in the top 10 of the 100 Greatest Britons poll sponsored by the BBC and voted for by the public. Most military historians believe Nelson's ability to inspire officers of the highest rank and seamen of the lowest was central to his many victories, as was his unequaled ability to both strategically plan his campaigns and tactically shift his forces in the midst of battle. He may have been the greatest field commander in history. Certainly, he stands as the greatest warrior afloat. It must also be said that his "Nelson touch" also worked with non-seamen; he was beloved in England by virtually everyone. (The only people not affected by him were those offended by his affair with Lady Hamilton!)

Related Topics:
Duke of Marlborough - Duke of Wellington - BBC

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Monuments to Nelson

The monumental Nelson's Column and the surrounding Trafalgar Square are notable locations in London to this day, and Nelson was buried in St. Paul's Cathedral. In Scotland, Nelson's Monument was constructed atop Calton Hill in Edinburgh. A Monument in Great Yarmouth to Nelson was started before his death but only completed in 1819. This is sometimes known as the Britannia monument as it is topped by that martial female rather than a statue of Nelson; a statue to Nelson can however be found in Norwich alongside Wellington.

Related Topics:
Nelson's Column - Trafalgar Square - London - St. Paul's Cathedral - Scotland - Nelson's Monument - Calton Hill - Edinburgh - Great Yarmouth

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In Montreal there is a monument to Nelson erected in 1809 in Place Jacques-Cartier which was a market place at the time. It has carved scenes from Nelson's career around the base and the statue on top was claimed to be the oldest public statue of Nelson in the world. It has been removed due to excessive weathering.

Related Topics:
Montreal - Place Jacques-Cartier

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There is also the Nelson memorial in Swarland, Northumberland which was raised as a private memorial of Nelson by his friend and sometime agent, Alexander Davison. The monument to Nelson in Dublin was destroyed by an IRA bomb (see Nelson's Pillar).

Related Topics:
Nelson memorial - Dublin - Nelson's Pillar

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The city of Nelson, New Zealand bears his name as well as Nelson Island on the Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada.

Related Topics:
Nelson, New Zealand - Nelson Island - Sunshine Coast, British Columbia

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Nelson and the Royal Navy

Victory is still kept on active commission in honour of Nelson — it is the flagship of the Second Sea Lord, and is the oldest commissioned ship of the Royal Navy. She can be found in Number 2 Dry Dock of the Royal Navy Museum at the Portsmouth Naval Base, in Portsmouth, England.

Related Topics:
Second Sea Lord - Royal Navy Museum - Portsmouth Naval Base - Portsmouth - England

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Two Royal Navy battleships have been named HMS Nelson in his honour. The Royal Navy celebrates Nelson every October 21 by holding Trafalgar Day dinners and toasting "The Immortal Memory" of Nelson.

Related Topics:
HMS ''Nelson'' - October 21

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The bullet that killed Nelson is permanently on display in the Grand Vestibule of Windsor Castle. The uniform that he wore during the battle, with the fatal bullet hole still visible, can be seen at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. A lock of Nelson's hair was given to the Imperial Japanese Navy from the Royal Navy after the Russo-Japanese war to commemorate the victory at the Battle of Tsushima. It is still on display at Kyouiku Sankoukan, a public museum maintained by the Japan Self-Defense Forces.

Related Topics:
Windsor Castle - National Maritime Museum - Imperial Japanese Navy - Royal Navy - Russo-Japanese war - Battle of Tsushima - Japan Self-Defense Forces

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Nelson's Descendants

Nelson had no legitimate children; his illegitimate daughter by Lady Hamilton, Horatia, subsequently married the Rev. Philip Ward and died in 1881. She and Rev. Ward had nine children: Horatio Nelson Ward (born December 8, 1822); Eleanor Phillipa Ward (born April 1824); Marmaduke Philip Smyth Ward (born May 27, 1825); John James Stephen Ward (February 13, 1827-1829); Nelson Ward (born May 8, 1828); William George Ward (born April 8, 1830); Edmund Ward (July 10, 1832-1833); Horatio Ward (born November 24, 1833), Philip Ward (born May 1834); Caroline Ward (born January 1836).

Related Topics:
1881 - December 8 - 1822 - 1824 - May 27 - 1825 - February 13 - 1827 - 1829 - May 8 - 1828 - April 8 - 1830 - July 10 - 1832 - 1833 - November 24 - 1834 - 1836

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Because Lord Nelson had no legitimate heirs, the Viscountcy and 1798 Barony of Nelson (both "of the Nile and of Burnham Thorpe in the County of Norfolk") became extinct upon his death. However, the 1801 Barony of Nelson ("of the Nile and of Hilborough in the County of Norfolk") passed by a special remainder to Lord Nelson's brother, The Revd William Nelson. William was also created Earl Nelson in recognition of his brother's services, which title is still extant.

Related Topics:
The Revd William Nelson - Earl Nelson

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Literary Influences

Although Nelson's exploits are often claimed to have provided inspiration for fictional characters such as Jack Aubrey, Horatio Hornblower and Honor Harrington, a close reading of the books does not bear this out. It is more likely Nelson's fame makes him the only Naval figure of the time that reviewers recall.

Related Topics:
Jack Aubrey - Horatio Hornblower - Honor Harrington

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Last words

Nelson's final words (as related by Victory's Surgeon William Beatty, based on the accounts of those who were with Nelson when he died) were "Thank God I have done my duty". According to Beatty, he repeated these words several times until he became unable to speak.

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In his dying hours, Nelson was also attended by his chaplain, Alexander Scott, his steward, Chevalier and Walter Burke, the purser, whose accounts have been available for modern biographers of Nelson. In those accounts, Nelson's last words were "Drink, drink. Fan, fan. Rub, rub.". This was a request to alleviate his symptoms of thirst, heat and the pains of his wounds (Pocock, Horatio Nelson, 1987, p.331).

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It is a common misconception that Nelson's last words were "Kiss me, Hardy", spoken to the captain of HMS Victory, Thomas Hardy. Nelson did, in fact, say this to Hardy a short time before his death, but they were not his last words, and Hardy was not present at his death (having been called back on deck). Some have speculated that Nelson actually said "Kismet Hardy", but this is impossible, since the word kismet did not enter the English language until much later.

Related Topics:
Thomas Hardy - Kismet

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"Tapping the Admiral"

According to a legend, naval rum rather than brandy was used to preserve his body. It was supposedly illicitly half drunk by the time it reached London; the crew were supposed to have sucked out the rum using thin straws. However, this legend is unlikely, due to the great respect that the crew had for Nelson, and because his body was guarded night and day by a marine. Nevertheless, this legend has given rise to the slang term "tapping the Admiral", meaning illicit drinking, and may be related to the nickname given to Naval rum rations later, "Nelson's Blood" (although this is possibly a deliberate echo of the Communion ritual).

Related Topics:
Legend - Rum - Communion

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