7. MEET HORATIO NELSON: LET’S WHET YOUR APPETITE

1758

Horatio Nelson is born on September 29, at Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk. The sixth of eleven children. The Norfolk Journal regularly gives up so much space to announcements in his family that it becomes known as Nelson’s Column.

1787

Nelson marries Fanny Nisbet having been devoted to the Navy since aged 12, despite bouts of malaria and sea-sickness. Nelson and his new wife live in his childhood home in Burnham Thorpe. Fanny complains about the squeeze, so Horatio agrees to have an extension built upon the Wendy House.

1793

In Naples, Nelson declares his love for Emma Hamilton, the wife of the British Ambassador.

1794

Nelson is instrumental in the daring capture of Corsica. He promises the Admiralty not to bring his violin next time. During the battle he loses his right eye.

1797

After triumph in the Battle of St. Vincent, he is made a Knight of the Bath an honour he accepts with alacrity, but wishes afterwards he had accepted it with a couple of bars of Dove soap instead.

In the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Nelson loses most of his right arm, but heroically fights on.

1798

He receives the title Baron Nelson of the Nile for his victory as commander against Napoleon’s fleet at The Battle of the Nile later upgraded to Viscount Nelson.

1799

King Ferdinand confers upon Horatio the Dukedom of Bronte as reward for his recapture of Naples.

Nelson no longer attends formal dinners because by the time his name and list of titles have been read out his soup has gone cold.

1801

At the Battle of Copenhagen the commander of the British fleet sends Nelson a semaphore message to withdraw. Aboard HMS Elephant Nelson raises his telescope to his blind eye so effectively ignores it. The battle continues and British fortunes improve and the Danes accept an armistice.

1805

At the Battle of Trafalgar, October 21, Nelson’s fleet triumphs against a stronger enemy and prevents the invasion of Britain.

Before battle, he sends the signal from his ship HMS Victory that England expects that every man will do his duty. During the battle Nelson is shot and taken below decks.

Ninety minutes later, Hardy informs his dying commander that many ships have surrendered to him and are now in his possession. Nelson thinks it’s a right bugger as it means he will now have to alter his will.

About three hours after being hit, Nelson dies. Amongst his last words were ‘Thank God I have done my duty’. Then looking around at the many gallons of Spanish and French wine the British have collected as booty he adds, ‘And thank God I won’t have to pay the bloody duty!’