Horatio Nelson

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Horatio Nelson was born in 1758, to Reverend Edmund Nelson and his wife Catherine Suckling.

His naval career began on 1 January 1771, aged just 12 years old, when he reported to the newly commissioned third-rate HMS Raisonnable as an ordinary seaman and coxswain under his maternal uncle, Captain Maurice Suckling, who commanded the vessel. Shortly after reporting aboard, Nelson was appointed a midshipman, and began officer training.

Despite a long career in the navy he was to suffer seasickness all his life.

He rose rapidly through the ranks, obtaining his own command at the age of 20, in 1778.

Nelson was involved in many battles, in which he had a couple of near misses. During the Battle of Calvi in Corsica, debris from a French shot flung into Nelson's face leaving him almost blind in his right eye.

At the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Nelson was shot in the right elbow by a musket ball, his humerus bone was shattered in multiple places. Back on his ship, most of Nelson’s arm was amputated without anaesthetics.

In 1801 Nelson destroyed the Danish Navy at the Battle of Copenhagen. During the battle he was sent a signal to break off action by the Admiral Sir Hyde Parker. Nelson reputedly put his telescope to his blind eye and said to his Flag Lieutenant, “You know Foley I have only one eye. I have a right to be blind sometimes. I really do not see the signal”.

Although this is now legendary it would seem that Nelson did actually regain sight.

His last battle was the Battle of Trafalgar on the 21st October 1805, Nelson sent his famous signal to the Fleet, “England expects that every man will do his duty” before it began.

It was at this battle Nelson was killed, his body was sent back to England in a barrel full of brandy which acted as a preservative during the long journey home.