Background
Horatio Nelson was born at Burnham Thorpe in Norfolk on September 29, 1758 to Reverend Edmund Nelson and Catherine. He was the sixth of the eleven children born to the couple.
Horatio Nelson was born at Burnham Thorpe in Norfolk on September 29, 1758 to Reverend Edmund Nelson and Catherine. He was the sixth of the eleven children born to the couple.
Academically proficient, Nelson completed his early education from Paston Grammar School in North Walsham. Thereafter, he enrolled at the King Edward VI’s Grammar School in Norwich.
In 1802, University of Oxford conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law.
Nelson commenced his career early at the age of 12 as an ordinary seaman and coxswain in the HMS Raisonnable. No sooner, he was appointed to the position of midshipman and started receiving his officer training. He rose through various ranks, eventually achieving the rank of the captain in 1778. He then served in the West Indies, Baltic and Canada.
In 1793, with the entry of Britain in the French Revolutionary Wars, he was given the command of the Agamemnon. It was while serving in the Mediterranean that he helped in the capture of the Corsica and fought in the Battle at Calvi together with Lieutenant General Charles Stuart. While he looked after the bombardment of the enemy camp, Stuart moved forward taking control of the place. It was during the constant bombardment that he irreparably damaged his eye and eventually lost sight of his right eye.
Following this, Nelson led British navy to record a stunning victory against French in the Battle of Cape St. Vincent in 1797. His trademark style of disregarding official orders and taking it on his own proved worthwhile as it only helped in the victory. After the success at the Battle of Cape St Vincent, he participated in the attack on Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands where he wounded his right arm, leaving himself amputated. He was then forced to return to England to recuperate.
The following year, he won a decisive victory at the Battle of the Nile over the French and remained in the Mediterranean to support the Kingdom of Naples against a French invasion.
Nelson next fought at the Battle of Copenhagen. Despite losing his eyesight and having his arm amputated, he did not cease to have a dominating role in the combat and pursued the same in his own style disrespecting the orders to stop the action by putting his telescope to his blind eye and claiming he couldn't see the signal to withdraw.
By 1801, his prowess and calibre helped him gain the position of a Vice-Admiral. Attaining the position, he became increasingly engaged in Napoleonic wars with France. After a brief return to England, he took over the Cádiz blockade in 1805. The same year, he engaged himself in what would turn out to be the last battle of his life. The Franco-Spanish fleet came out of port and his fleet engaged them at the Battle of Trafalgar. The battle turned out to be Britain’s greatest naval victory but Nelson was badly fatally injured by a French sniper, which led to his death on January 21, 1805. His body was later brought back to England from Victory at the Nore. He was laid in state for three days at the Painted Hall at Greenwich.
Quotations:
"Gentlemen, when the enemy is committed to a mistake we must not interrupt him too soon. "
"Recollect that you must be a seaman to be an officer and also that you cannot be a good officer without being a gentleman. "
"Firstly you must always implicitly obey orders, without attempting to form any opinion of your own regarding their propriety. Secondly, you must consider every man your enemy who speaks ill of your king; and thirdly you must hate a Frenchman as you hate the devil. "
"Time is everything; five minutes make the difference between victory and defeat. "
"I owe all my success in life to having been always a quarter of an hour before my time. "
Nelson was noted for his inspirational leadership, superb grasp of strategy, and unconventional tactics, which together resulted in a number of decisive naval victories.
Nelson married Frances Fanny Nisbet, a young widow at Montpelier Estate on the Island of Nevis on March 11, 1787.
The Most Noble Lord Horatio Nelson, Viscount and Baron Nelson, of the Nile and of Burnham Thorpe in the County of Norfolk, Baron Nelson of the Nile and of Hilborough in the said County, Knight of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Vice Admiral of the White Squadron of the Fleet, Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Ships and Vessels in the Mediterranean, Duke of Bronté in the Kingdom of Sicily, Knight Grand Cross of the Sicilian Order of St Ferdinand and of Merit, Member of the Ottoman Order of the Crescent, Knight Grand Commander of the Order of St Joachim