Admiral Horatio Nelson
| The Viscount Nelson | |
|---|---|
Vice Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson, by Lemuel Francis Abbott
|
|
| Born | 29 September 1758 Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, England |
| Died | 21 October 1805 (aged 47) Battle of Trafalgar, Cape Trafalgar, Spain |
| Allegiance |
Great Britain United Kingdom British Empire |
| Service/branch | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1771–1805 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral of the White |
| Commands held | Mediterranean Fleet |
| Battles/wars |
Kandyan Wars |
| Awards |
Knight of the Order of the Bath Several others (see below) |
| Spouse(s) | Frances Nisbet |
| Signature |  |
Kandyan Wars
Fourth Anglo-Mysore War
War of the Second Coalition
Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté KB (29 September 1758 – 21 October 1805) was a British flag officer in the Royal Navy. He was noted for his inspirational leadership, superb grasp of strategy, and unconventional tactics, all of which resulted in a number of decisive naval victories, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. He was wounded several times in combat, losing most of one arm in the unsuccessful attempt to conquer Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the sight in one eye in Corsica. He was shot and killed during his final victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
Nelson was born into a moderately prosperous Norfolk family and joined the navy through the influence of his uncle, Maurice Suckling, a high-ranking naval officer himself. He rose rapidly through the ranks and served with leading naval commanders of the period before obtaining his own command in 1778. He developed a reputation in the service through his personal valour and firm grasp of tactics but suffered periods of illness and unemployment after the end of the American War of Independence. The outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars allowed Nelson to return to service, where he was particularly active in the Mediterranean. He fought in several minor engagements off Toulon and was important in the capture of Corsica and subsequent diplomatic duties with the Italian states. In 1797, he distinguished himself while in command of HMS Captain at the Battle of Cape St Vincent.
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