Horatio Nelson
Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson (29 September 1758 – 21 October 1805)[1][2] was an English sea captain in the Royal Navy. He was born at the rectory of the village of Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk.[3][4]
Nelson commanded the British fleet during the Napoleonic Wars, fighting the French and Spanish. Nelson was blind in one eye, after being wounded in battle.[5] During the Battle of Trafalgar, his greatest victory, he was killed by a French sniper.
Last words
At least three versions of his last words exist, and are shown in wikiquote.
His most well-known last words are, "Kiss me, Hardy".
Another statement during his last hours was, "Thank God I have done my duty."[1]
Alternatively, he may have said both of these statements; "Kiss me, Hardy" and Hardy kissed him on the cheek. Then Nelson said, "Now I am satisfied. Thank God I have done my duty."[4] Then Hardy kissed him again on the forehead and Nelson called out, "Who is that?" Hardy replied, "It is Hardy."[4] Then Nelson said, "God bless you, Hardy."[4] Then he murmoured to those around him to look after Emma Hamilton and his daughter.[4]
Most recently are accounts of his chaplain, Alexander Scott; his steward, Chevalier; and the purser, Walter Burke. "Drink, drink. Fan, fan. Rub, rub" was a request to ease his symptoms of thirst, heat, and the pains of his wounds.[6]
Scott, who remained by Nelson as he died, recorded his last words as 'God and my country'.[7]
Horatio Nelson Media
The site of the rectory in Burnham Thorpe where Nelson was born in 1758
Captain Horatio Nelson, painted by John Francis Rigaud in 1781, with Fort San Juan—the scene of his most notable achievement up to that point—in the background. The painting itself was begun and nearly finished prior to the battle, when Nelson held the rank of lieutenant; when Nelson returned, the artist added the new captain's gold-braided sleeves.
Nelson's Column – Death of Nelson at Trafalgar panel, with George Ryan standing on the left-hand edge, holding a rifle
Nelson's wife, Lady Nelson, formerly Frances "Fanny" Nisbet of the island of Nevis, West Indies. A painting of the British school, circa 1800, formerly attributed to Richard Cosway, from an earlier copy.
The fight of the Ça Ira
Nelson receives the surrender of the San Nicholas, an 1806 portrait by Richard Westall
Nelson wounded during the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife; 1806 painting by Richard Westall
Battle of the Nile, 1 August 1798 at 10 pm, painting by Thomas Luny, 1834
Lady Hamilton as either a bacchante or Ariadne, by Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, c. 1790; a painting owned by Nelson, which hung above his bed until his death
The Battle of the Malta convoy
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mullet, Charles F. (1978). "Nelson, Horatio". World Book Encyclopedia 14. World Book-Childcraft International Inc..
- ↑ "BBC: History: Historic Figures: Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson (1758 - 1805)". BBC. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
- ↑ Horsley, E. M. (1986). Hutchinson Factfinder: Concise Encyclopedia. London: Guild Publishing.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Iggulden, Hal; Iggulden, Conn (2006). The Dangerous Book for Boys. HarperCollins. p. 154-158. ISBN 9780007232741.
- ↑ N.A.M. Rodger, ‘Nelson, Horatio, Viscount Nelson (1758–1805)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press 2004; online edn, May 2009 accessed 5 Oct 2009
- ↑ Pocock, Tom (1987). Horatio Nelson. London: The Bodley Head. p. 331. ISBN 0-370-31124-8.
- ↑ Hayward, Joel S. A. (2003). For God and Glory: Lord Nelson and His Way of War. ISBN 1-59114-351-9.p. 63