21st October 2005200th Anniversary of the Death of Horatio

Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar

A Norfolk Hero

Horatio Nelson was born on 29th September1758 at Burnham Thorpe in Norfolk, son of the rector Edmund Nelson. Horatio’s mother , Catherine Suckling was related to a powerful Norfolk family called the Walpoles. The Walpoles owned a lot of land around the

Burnhams, and it was through them that Edmund got his job as rector. Horatio’s education took place in the county, at the Norwich School and then at the Paston School at North Walsham. It was from there that he went on to join the navy.

Burnham Thorpe Rectory

The Lord Nelson pub was frequented by Horatio. Known in his day as The Plough

                                  

Edmund Nelson Horatio’s Father

Captain Maurice Suckling

http://www.admiralnelson.org/nelson-fl.htm

Rectory at Burnham Thorpe demolished just after Edmund Nelson’s death in 1803

First Farewell

1758 Nelson born in our village at Burnham Thorpe. The middle son of a family of five boys and three girls, his father was the rector of the Parish Church. His mother enjoyed valuable social connections.1767His Mother died suddenly on Boxing Day.1771Joins his Uncle, Captain Maurice Suckling on the 'Raisonnable', a captured French ship, as 'Captains Servant‘1777Nelson takes examination for a commission as Lieutenant.1779Nelson promoted to Post Captain.Assumed command of his first vessel, 'Hitchinbroke'. 1788-1793Nelson, with his new wife, Frances, lives in the Parsonage at Burnham Thorpe.1793Back to sea on 'HMS Agamemnon'.Meets Emma, Lady Hamilton. 1794In a landing party at Siege of Calvi, Nelson blinded in right eye.1797Success on board 'HMS Captain' off Cape St Vincent, makes Nelson a hero and the toast of London.Promoted to Rear Admiral of the BlueMade Knight of the Bath5 Months later at Santa Cruz, right arm shattered then amputated.1798Success at the Battle of the Nile onboard 'HMS Vanguard‘Made Baron Nelson of the Nile. Begins affair with Emma. 1801Promoted to Vice AdmiralNelson made Commander in Chief, Baltic  after Battle of Copenhagen Made Viscount Nelson of the Nile & Burnham Thorpe. 1803Appointed Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet. Hoists flag on 'Victory' 1805The Battle of Trafalgar. Nelson's greatest achievement, but it cost him his life.

Nelson and Bear

http://www.mezzo-mondo.com/arts/mm/marine/index_a.html

Card Party at Merton Place.

Paston School, North Walsham

In 1769, brothers William and Horatio Nelson came to the school as boarders, and from here, in March 1771, Horatio set out on his legendary career.

At the turn of the 19th century, the world was at war. On one side stood a military genius who had conquered a continent. On the other was the one man, with only a weather-beaten squadron of wooden ships, who could stop him. Such is the backdrop of the life of England's greatest hero: Horatio Nelson. Joining the Royal Navy at the age of 12, Nelson physically represented the furthest thing from a hero. He was small, sickly, and obsessively vain, yet Nelson would go on to lead his men into some of the greatest naval battles in history. And he would entwine himself into a torrid love affair that would rock the conservative Georgian society from which he drew so much devotion.

Nelson's secret: to live under the simple rule that everyone is expected to do his duty. In a time when the officers of His Majesty's Ships were virtually royalty themselves compared to the common seaman living between cramped decks, Nelson insisted that these hardened British tars were worthy of respect and addressed them not as subordinates but as kinsmen. He always led from the front and would never ask his men to perform any duty of which he was not prepared to do first. Such dedication cost him the use of an eye, the loss of an arm, and ultimately his life. For this, his men loved him and would successfully battle against overwhelming odds without question.

A vain, petty and arrogant man, Nelson was also lured into a passionate affair with the wife of an Ambassador. Abandoning his own wife, Nelson was openly devoted to his beloved Lady Hamilton in a time when the King himself insisted on strict moral practices.

The crowning moment in the life of Lord Nelson came on an Autumn morning in 1805, off the coast of Spain, when Nelson's outnumbered fleet engaged the Combined Franco-Spanish Fleet, which Napoleon had intended to escort his invasion force against England. Although he paid the ultimate price for it, Nelson completely smashed his enemy's fleet in the Battle of Trafalgar, paving the way for the British Empire to rule the seas for another century and causing Napoleon to forever abandon his lust for conquering England.

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Life Onboard HMS Victory – click to enter

About Nelson - click to enter the site

Admiral Lord Nelson Interactive Quiz - click to go to site

Launch Animation - Click Here to play the game

E2BN presents Local Heroes - NELSON - click to enter site

Wake Up To Nelson - Click here to find out about our Hero

Great Yarmouth front at time of Nelson

Nelson mortally wounded

http://test.virtualnorfolk.uea.ac.uk/images/documents/1000width/0325.jpg

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Nelson at Portsmouth

HMS Victory off Gibraltar, May 17th 1805. David Bell.

Nelson’s Ships and Battles

Nelson boarding a captured ship in 1777

'"HMS Agamemnon" - Nelson's first flagship leads the squadron, Mediterranean, 1796'

Young Officers whilst at sea.

Fighting a boarding party

'The Battle of St. Vincent, 14th February, 1797'

'HMS Captain' 74-gun shipCommodore Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of St. Vincent in 1797.

Nelson in conflict with the Spanish in 1797

Receiving the surrender of the San Nicholas 1797

Nelson wounded at Tenerife July 1797

Nelson leaving Portsmouth to sail to Trafalgar

Nelson’s Flagships at Anchor

Nelson’s Prayer

"May The Great God whom I worship grant to my country and  for the benefit of Europe in general, a great and glorious victory; and may no misconduct in anyone tarnish it; and may humanity after victory be the predominant feature of the British Fleet. For myself individually I commit my life to Him who made me, and may this blessing light upon my endeavours for serving my country faithfully. To Him I resign  myself and the just cause which is entrusted to me to defend. Amen. Amen. Amen."

Nelsons Last Signal at Trafalgar Noon 21st October 1805

ENGLAND EXPECTS THAT EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY

Battle of Trafalgar Montague Dawson

Battle of Trafalgar

Battle of Trafalgar

Awaiting Nelson’s Orders

'HMS Victory' 100-gun shipNelson's great flagship at

Trafalgar

"Victory" breaks the enemy line, Trafalgar 21st October 1805'

'The Battle of Trafalgar' by Steven Dews.

Battle of Trafalgar

Victory at Trafalgar after the famous painting by JMW Turner

Nelson receiving his death wound

Nelson is mortally wounded

Nelson has been mortally wounded at Trafalgar

The Death of Nelson

                                                         

Nelson’s funeral procession on the River Thames, London

Nelson’s Funeral

Depositum 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

saidCounty

Knight of the Most Noble Order of the BathVice-Admiral of the White Squadron of the Fleet

AndCommander-in-Chief of his Majesty's Ships and

vesselsIn the Mediterranean

AlsoDuke of Bronte in Sicily

Knight Grand Cross of the Sicilian Order of St Ferdinand and of Merit

Member of the Ottoman Order of the Crescent; and

Knight Grand Commander of the Order of St Joachim

Born September 29 1758After a series of transcendent and heroic services

thisGallant Admiral fell gloriously, in the moment

Of a brilliant and decisive Victory over theCombined Fleets of France and Spain, off

Trafalgar, onthe 21st October 1805

Nelson and Emma at Merton Place with Horatia

Divine Service as it practiced on a ship

Nelson falling in the Arms of Victory

Britania crowning the bust of the late hero

“Twas in Trafalgar’s Bay” explained by a Chelsea Pensioner

Saluting Nelson 1905