Figure 1.--Here we have soon to be Midshipman Horatio Nelson. This historical portrait depicts 'Nelson's first farewell'. A bit dramatic, but there were actual scenes like this that took place throughout the 18th century as young British boys went to sea. Actually younger boys than this bid farewell to their parents before going to sea. Boys from working-class families served as ships boys, cabin boys, powder monkeys, and other roles on 18th century ships, both in the Royal Navy and other navies. Boys from middle class families began as midshipmen to begin officer training. There were no naval academies at the time, but note that cadets at Annapolis are still known as 'midshipmen'. Boys learned on ships at sea at about age 12-13 years of age. British naval hero, Lord, Nelson was a popular subject. The artist did a touching portrait, the full title was 'Thirty Years before Trafalgar: Young Nelson and his Grandmother. It was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1883. Joy imagines imagines the 12-13 year-old Nelson saying goodbye to his grandmother who helped raised him. His mother died when he was only 9 years old. He is outfitted in his new midshipman's uniform and saying farewell to his grandmother on his first departure for sea duty (1771). The original oil is in the main entrance hall of the Royal Hospital School at Holbrook, Suffolk, where the accompanying label states it is the picture exhibited at the Academy and reproduced in Arthur Mee's 'Children's Encyclopaedia'. The Royal Museums Greenwich with a copy describes it as "... a well-painted example of the 'When did you last see your father' school of Victorian fictional history painting ...." The artist was George William Joy.

Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson is widely seen as the greatest naval commander of all time. We might think that American Chester Nimitz is in contention here. But bin terms fighting admirals actually commanding fleets at vea in battle, Nelson is without peer. He was born into a middle class family in Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk (1758). Note that the French and Spanish admirals he fought were almost all aristocrats. The Royal Navy in contrast was much more of a meritocracy, unusual at the time. His father was a scholarly man, but with limited resources. He grew up in a form of genteel poverty. He was small and sickly. He lost his mother when he was only 9-years old. He was then raised by his grandmother. From an early age he desired to join the Royal Navy. This he managed though the influence of his uncle, Maurice Suckling. His talents were noted early. He rose rapidly through the ranks and benefited by serving with leading Royal Navy commanders. He received his first command (1778). He became widely respected for inspirational leadership, an unsurpassed grasp of strategy, and most notably unconventional tactics. These led to a series of decisive naval victories over the French and Spanish during the Napoleonic Wars. He led front the front and paid a price for it. He was wounded several times in his many combats. He lost an arm in the failed attempt to conquer Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands. He lost the sight in one eye in Corsica. He was finally shot and killed during the critical Battle of Trafalgar (1805). Nelson was first British commander to engage Napoleon in an important ways. While Napoleon was engaging the Mamalukes in successful, but pointless battles, Nelson was engaged in the critical effort to find and destroy the French fleet. He defeated the French fleet at the Battle of the Nile fought in Aboukir Bay (1799). 【Meyerson】This isolated Napoleon and the French army. Napoleon had to abandon his army and somehow eluded the British fleet to get back to France where he proceeded to seize control of the Government. Nelson had gained two great victories over the French earlier. But not since the Great Armada had the Royal Navy faced such a massive naval forece. The British First Sea Lord appointed Admiral Lord Nelson as Commander in Chief of the British Fleet which was being assembled to engage the French and Spanish ships. Nelson selected His Majesty's Ship Victory as his flagship. He sailed south towards the bastion at Gibraltar to organize the Fleet. Nelson's stunning victory at Trafalgar against a larger French and Spanish fleet gave the British unquestioned naval supremacy for a century and in cooperation with America meant that the Anglo-Americans promoting democracy and capitalism would powerfully shape the modern world.

Parents

Horatio was born into a modest middle class family in Burnham Thorpe, a tiny village in Norfolk (1758). He was the son of Edmund Nelson, a cleric, and his wife Catherine. Note that the French and Spanish admirals he fought were almost all aristocrats. The Royal Navy in contrast was much more of a meritocracy, unusual at the time. His father was a scholarly man, but with limited resources.

Childhood

Horatio grew up in a form of genteel poverty. He was small and sickly boy. Horatio was the sixth of 11 children. Edmund Nelson would have been hard pressed financially if he just had one child. But he has 11! Edmund was genteel, scholarly, and poor. Which s how Horatio grew up. He lost his mother when he was only 9-years old (1767). His father despaired of raising all his children without his wife. Their grandmother stepped in to help with the children when her daughter died. Horatio had one family connection which might have helped with a reasonable future. He had one well-to do distant relation -- Lord Walpole -- a descendant of none other than Horatio Walpole, who had been chief minister earlier in the century. Horatio was named after him. 【Pettigrew】 But it was his mother's brother who stepped up. Cpt. Maurice Suckling, who was to become comptroller of the Royal Navy. After his mother died, Cpt. Suckling offered to take Horatio to sea with him. Horatio eagerly accepted.

Education

Nelson attended Paston Grammar School in North Walsham and also entered King Edward VI's Grammar School in Norwich. His academic career ended at age 12 years when his uncle offered to take him to sea.

Midshipman

From an early age he desired to join the Royal Navy. We are not sure what led to this interest, but it was not unusual among British boys at the time. His naval service career began when he boarded the the third-rate HMS Raisonnable (1771) He was 12 years old. He began as an ordinary seaman and coxswain under his uncle who captained the vessel. Basically he was brought aboard as his uncle's personal servant. Once aboard, Suckling had him appointed a midshipman and he began his officer training. He had trouble with sea sickness, something which never totally disappeared. 【Sugden, p. 56.】 Boys from mostly middle-class families entered the Royal Navy as officer recruits at a very young age, often 12-13 years old. These 'young gentlemen' like Horatio had dreams of fame and glory, but promotion was difficult with a great deal to learn. Many if not most failed to advance beyond lieutenant. Interestingly, because of the need to expand the fleet to deal with the challenge of first Revolutionary and then Napoleonic France. We do not often recommend movies. But for an accurate depiction of life aboard a Royal Navy vessel of the era, including the Midshipmen, we recommend 'Master and Commanders'. Many Opportunities were created for entry and advancement beyond that of any other period. This expansion ran into trouble with the young American Republic as Royal Navy vessels began stopping American vessels and impressing American crewmen. This resulted in a second war with Britain--the War of 1812. There was probably more opportunity for bright boys from humble beginnings than any other area of British society. Certainly more than in the Army. We suspect this was because the Navy required technical skills to a much greeter extent than he Army. Scholars contend that there was real social diversity among naval officers, with promotion increasingly related to professional competence. 【Cavelle】 Horatio at age 14 years took part in an expedition to the Arctic. During the expedition, he had to defended a small boat from a walrus attack--we think his first combat experience.

Learning His Trade (1771-77)

Horatio first went to sea at the age of 12 years (1771). His uncle brought him aboard his ship as a personal servant, but he was soon a certified Midshipman. His talents were noted early. He rose rapidly through the ranks and benefited by serving with leading Royal Navy commanders. Nelson’s first years in the Royal Navy were unremarkable routine as he learned his trade. Much of this was done in the Thames estuary. The first real taste of adventure was a voyage to the West Indies on a merchant ship and a dangerous and largely unsuccessful scientific expedition to the Arctic (1773). This is whee he tangled with the walruses. Nelson was a warrior, but he developed an interest in science. The first taste of real action came in the Indian Ocean. But he was struck down by a fever--probably malaria. He was invalided home and became depressed. But he recovered quickly with a resurgent drive to become a success. Remarkably as a young teenager in the 18th century when few people ventured far from their birth village, he had experiences from Europe, the Indian Ocean, the Arctic, and the Caribbean. Few of us even today have such wide ranging experiences.

America

We usually think about Nelson in connection with thunderous at sea battles with the French fleet. His earliest engagements, however, swirled around the American Revolution. This included actions both during and after the Revolution. At first it was with the French and Spanish who entered the War in support of the Colonies. Both had real substantial navies. After the War it was with American shipping. Often not understood is that the Colonies had a substantial merchant fleet. No real navy, but after Britain one of the largest merchant marines. And both during and after the War, Horatio; experiences were in the Caribbean. Today the Caribbean is a kind of tourist backwater. In the 18th century in was a throbbing heart of international finance. The Caribbean sugar islands generated vast wealth. And the Europeans (Britain, France, and pain) all wanted to expand their Caribbean holdings at each other;' expense. The Revolutionary War offered such prospects. . This was a great boon to the American cause because it forced Britain to divide its substantial, but still limited efforts. They could not focus just on the rebellious Americans.

American Revolution (1776-83)

After the Wars with France (French and Indian War/Seven Years War, Britain was largely at peace (after 1756). Nelson enteed the Navy at a time of relative peace. That was about to change--and from an unexpected source--the American colonies. Nelson passed his lieutenant exam (1777) and sailed for the Caribbean (West Indies). This was the most active naval theater in the American Revolution. The Americans of course did not have a proper Navy--they relied on the Royal Navy. They dis have a surprisingly large merchant marine. 【Toll】 Britain was running out of the forests needed to provide the huge quantity of timber needed for ship construction. The Colonies had vast virgin forests with a virtually unlimited supply of timber. And the Continental Congress began issuing letters of marque, turning merchant vessels into privateers. These vessels for the most part could not take on Royal Nay vessels, but they could take on largely unarmed British merchantmen. And the Atlantic Ocean coves am enormous area. And it would take the Royal Navy some time to shut this down. It proved costly to British trade. Insurance rates skyrocketed. And this played out in the Caribbean because of immense value of the sugar trade. While the Americans did not have a sustainable navy. There were only a few vessels. John Paul Jones became a national hero. But France and Spain had real navies and they entered the war in support of the Americans. Both countries had their eyes on British sugar islands. And the British eyed French and Spanish possession. This of course aided the American cause it meant the British could not concentrate their forces in he American colonies. Nelson was promoted to captain (1779). He was only 20 years old. His first command was a frigate. He was ordered to support operations against Spanish settlements in Nicaragua. The attack on San Juan was successful but military success tuned into a disaster. The British force which landed was was decimated by yellow fever. This time Nelson managed to avoid the disease.

Independence (1783)

Lord Cornwallis surrendered the second British field army to combined American and French force at Yorktown (1781). This led to the Treaty of Paris (1783). The Colonies became an independent country. Britain recognized American independence with surprisingly generous terms with borders stretching all the way west to the Mississippi River. This included extensive territory not in American hands. The British were willing to do this in order to separate American and French negotiators. With the end of the Revolutionary War, Nelson returned to Britain and reunited with Fanny in Burnham Thorpe. For some reason he returned home through France. He received a new commission to command a frigate. The following year he sailed back to the Caribbean (1784). It was to be a frustrating command. He actually enforced British law. The problem was no longer the French, but this time the Navigation Acts These were laws dating back to 1651 designed to promote English shipping and ensure that the benefits of trade went to the English. Before the Revolution this included Colonial shipping. But with independence, this was no longer the case. Many Americans, however, continued to trade with the British privileges which they had benefited from for years. Nelson actually enforced the law. The problem for Nelson was it was not only the American merchants and shipowners s that were affected. He angered the resident British authorities including Royal Navy officers who were not enforcing the law and benefiting financially. British merchants also participating in the trade. It also angered other Royal Navy officers who were also benefited by the lax enforcement. This made Nelson extraordinarily unpopular among the many British authoritative and merchants adversely impacted by enforcement of the law. This put Nelson under enormous strain. It also made enemies in the Admiralty which would impact his career for some time. This generally isolated Nelson, placing him under enormous strain. It would also be a factor in his decision to marry.

Private Life

Nelson while still in the Caribbean (West Indies) met Frances 'Fanny' Nisbet, a young widow from Nevis at Montpelier Estate. Under the strain of his post-Revolution and the difficulties that developed as well as and of the loneliness of command, Nelson was lonely and according to one source, "at his most vulnerable when he visited the island of Nevis (1785). There he met Frances Nisbet, a widow, and her five-year-old son, Josiah. Nelson conducted his courtship with formality and charm for 18 months. The couple was married on Nevis (1787). There was both romantic attachment and practical considerations. They married and returned to Burnham Thorpe to established a home. Nelson's priority was his naval career. He was often away at sea on duty. Fanny was a dutiful wife and managed their household. While chasing the wily French fleet around the Mediterranean, he put into Naples (1793). There he got involved in putting down a rebellion. In the process he met and fell in love with Emma Hamilton. The two began an affair despite both being married. By the time they returned to England with Hamilton’s husband, Sir William Hamilton (1800), Emma was pregnant with Nelson's child. Nelson separated from Fanny, but there was no divorce. That was still taboo in British society, Frances would receive half of his income during his lifetime and a generous pension after his death.

Napoleomic Naval Combat

The novels of C.S. Forester and his creation Cot. Horatio Hornblower have have helped create the popular image of naval warfare during the Napoleonic Wars. Britain was the dominant naval power of the 18th century. British naval power was an important factor in British defeat of the French in India. Even so, France was a rising naval power. It was the French fleet that made possible the American victory at Yorktown during the American Revolution. The naval fighting during the Napoleonic Wars was critical. 【Mahan】 The naval battles were not only to the outcome of the War, but to 19th and 20th century history. A French victory could have mean a blockade an isolation of Britain, perhaps even an invasion. British naval supremely made the Peninsular Campaign possible. Without the British fleet there would have been no blockade of French and other continental ports and thus less need for an invasion of Russia. The naval fighting began during the French Revolution with the Battle of the Glorious First of June (1794). The fleet action in the Battle of the Nile (1798) resulted in the destruction of an entire French army, which Napoleon deserted. Nelson's climatic Battle if Trafalgar (1805) over the French and Spanish combined fleet gave Britain control of the seas for the rest of the century. It was the British ship HMS Bellerophon intercepted Napoleon at sea after Waterloo as he attempted to flee to America (1815). 【Cordingly】

Storied Career

Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson is widely seen as the greatest naval commander of all time. We might think that American Chester Nimitz is in contention here. But bin terms fighting admirals actually commanding fleets at vea in battle, Nelson is without peer. Nelson received his first command (1778). He became widely respected for inspirational leadership, an unsurpassed grasp of strategy, and most notably unconventional battle tactics. These led to a series of decisive naval victories over the French and Spanish during the Napoleonic Wars. He led front the front and paid a price for it. He was wounded several times in his many combats. He lost an arm in the failed attempt to conquer Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands. He lost the sight in one eye in Corsica. He was finally shot and killed during the critical Battle of Trafalgar (1805). Nelson was first British commander to engage Napoleon in important ways. While Napoleon was fighting the Mamalukes in successful, but pointless battles, Nelson was engaged in the critical effort to find and destroy the French fleet. He defeated the French fleet at the Battle of the Nile fought in Aboukir Bay (1799). 【Meyerson】 This isolated Napoleon and the French army. Napoleon had to abandon his army and somehow eluded the British fleet to get back to France where he proceeded to seize control of the Government. When Napoleon slipped back into France, he found the government about to collapse. Napoleon seized control of the government. Some historians look on this as the end of the French Revolution. Meanwhile in Egypt the French forces were forced to surrender (1801). As part of the surrender they were forced to hand over the Egyptian treasures and antiquities many of which can now be found in London museums today. One of those was the Rosetta Stone. Nelson had gained two great victories over the French earlier. But not since the Great Armada had the Royal Navy faced such a massive naval force. The British First Sea Lord appointed Admiral Lord Nelson as Commander in Chief of the British Fleet which was being assembled to engage the French and Spanish ships. Napoleon' military genius carried French armies all over Europe. Britain's small Army could not have defeated him if Napoleon managed to get his Army to Britain. But first to do that he had to cross the Channel. And to do so the French in cooperation with the Spanish were building a massive fleet to make the crossing. Napoleon positioned a large Army along the Channel coast to make the crossing. Nelson selected His Majesty's Ship Victory as his flagship. He sailed south towards the bastion at Gibraltar to organize the Fleet. Nelson's stunning victory at Trafalgar against a larger French and Spanish fleet is a masterpiece of naval tactics that saved Britain, and often ignored, America as well. (Napoleon still had designs on North America.) All of this is memorialized today in London's Trafalgar Square. .

Importance

Nelsons's Victory at Trafalgar gave the British unquestioned naval supremacy for a century and in cooperation with America meant that the Anglo-Americans promoting democracy and capitalism would powerfully shape the modern world.

Sources

Cavelle, Samantha. Midshipmen and Quarterdeck Boys in the British Navy, 1771-1831 (Boydell Press: 2012).

Cordingly, David. The Billy Ruffian: The Bellerophon and the Downfall of Napoleon--The Biography of a Ship of the Line, 1782-1836 (Bloomsbury, 2003), 355p.

Mahamn, Alfred Thayer. <>i>The Influence of Sea Power upon the French Revolution and Empire, 1793-1812 (1892).

Meyerson, Daniel. The Linguist and the Emperor: Napoleon and Champollion's Quest to Decipher the Rosetta Stone (Ballantine, 2004), 271p.

Pettigrew, Thomas. Memoirs of the Life of Vice-Admiral, Lord Viscount Nelson, K. B., Duke of Bronte. (London: T. & W. Boone, 1849).

Sugden, John. Nelson: A Dream of Glory (London: Jonathan Cape: 2004).

Toll, Ian W. Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy (Norton: 2006).

Created: 8:26 PM 7/27/2016
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Last updated: 3:36 AM 7/1/2026