Reverend Edmund Nelson

The Reverend Edmund Nelson
Nelson, painted by William Beechey in 1800
Born	19 March 1722 Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, Great Britain
Died	26 April 1802(1802-04-26) (aged 80) Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom
Nationality	British
Occupation	priest

Edmund Nelson (19 March 1722 – 26 April 1802) was an Anglican priest during the eighteenth century, most famous as the father of Horatio Nelson.

Nelson was born in Cambridge on 19 March 1722, one of eight children of Edmund Nelson (a priest) and Mary Bland. The Nelsons were an old Norfolk family and were moderately prosperous. Nelson was baptised on 29 March 1723 at the parish church at East Bradenham. Three of his siblings died in infancy, whilst Nelson himself had 'a weak and sickly constitution'. He was educated at a number of Norfolk schools before attending Caius College, Cambridge. He attained a bachelor's degree, followed by a Master's, after which he left to become curate at his father's church in Sporle. He then worked under Thomas Page, Rector of Beccles, and on his father's death in 1747, Nelson succeeded to the livings of Hilborough and Beccles. During his time at Beccles, Nelson met Catherine Suckling, and married her on 11 May 1749 at Beccles. Catherine was the daughter of another priest, Maurice Suckling, and her grandmother had been the sister of Robert Walpole. The family therefore became distant relations of the powerful Earls of Orford, and Catherine's immediate family, including her brother, Maurice Suckling, provided important influence that would help the Nelsons' children in their early years.

The couple moved to Swaffham after their marriage where Catherine bore Nelson three children. Two died in infancy; a third, Maurice, survived. They then moved to Sporle, where on 12 June 1755 Catherine gave birth to the couple's first daughter, Susanna. Also in 1755 Horace Walpole offered Nelson the position of rector at Burnham Thorpe. He accepted and the two settled at the rectory.William was born on 20 April 1757, and on 29 September 1758, Catherine gave birth to Horatio, naming him after Horatio's godparent, Horatio Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford. Horatio was a sickly child, and Nelson feared he would not live long enough to be baptised at the public ceremony arranged for 15 November. Horatio was baptised at a private ceremony on 9 October.