Page 77 - Issues131-133

Historical figures #13N

Lord nelson

Lord Nelson as he was and is popularly known, is correctly named Vice-
Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronte and is
widely regarded as one of the greatest naval commanders in history.

Nelson was clearly an ‘over-achiever.’ He joined the Royal Navy in his teens
and obtained his own command at the age of 20, in 1778. What were you
doing at 20? After the American War of Independence he was ‘laid-off’ for a
time before being brought back into the navy for service during the French
Revolutionary Wars, where he again acquitted himself admirably (pun
intended!). Nelson lost most of the sight in his right eye
whilst helping to capture Corsica, after which he
recuperated then was assigned to diplomatic duties with
the Italian states.

In 1797 he was back at sea, again
fighting the French, and this time lost
his right arm and was again sent
back to England to recuperate. A
glutton for punishment, the following
year he was back at sea where, as a
vice-admiral, he won a decisive
victory over the French at the Battle of the Nile.

In 1801, Nelson was dispatched to the Baltic Sea
and defeated Denmark at the Battle of Copenhagen.
He commanded the blockade of the French and
Spanish fleets at Toulon and, after their escape,
chased them to the West Indies and back but failed
to bring them to battle. After a brief return to England,
he took command of HMS Victory and took over the
Cádiz blockade. On 21 October 1805
the Franco-Spanish fleet came out of
port and Nelson's fleet engaged them
at the Battle of Trafalgar. The battle
became one of Britain's greatest
naval victories but Nelson was fatally
wounded by a French sharpshooter.
His body was brought back to
England, where he was accorded a
state funeral.

Nelson's death at Trafalgar secured
his position as one of Britain's most
heroic figures. His signal just prior to
the commencement of the battle,
"England expects that every man will
do his duty," is regularly quoted and
paraphrased. Numerous monuments,

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