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Tuesday, January 12, 2016

A Memorial to Horatio Nelson & Family


After last week's post, my wife mentioned to me that she couldn't read the above inscription. On my computer, I can readily zoom in on any photograph, but some readers may have trouble doing so. So for all of you out there in my wife's shoes, here goes:


SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF THE
REVEREND WILLIAM, EARL NELSON, DUKE OF BRONTE,
WHO WAS BORN THE 20TH OF APRIL, 1757, AND DIED 28TH FEBRUARY 1835.
HIS REMAINS ARE DEPOSITED IN ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL,
BY THE SIDE OF HIS GALLANT BROTHER, HORATIO, VICOUNT NELSON.
ALSO SACRED TO THE MEMORIES OF HORATIO NELSON,
SON OF SAMUEL, LORD BRIDPORT, AND OF CHARLOTTE MARY, HIS WIFE,
WHO WAS BORN JULY 25TH 1922, AND DIED JANUARY 19TH 1826.
AND OF HIS BROTHER, HORATION NELSON,
WHO WAS BORN APRIL 27TH 1826, AND DIED JANUARY 2ND, 1832.
THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED BY CHARLOTTE MARY, LADY BRIDPORT,
AS A TOKEN OF AFFECTION AND GRATITUDE TO HER FATHER,
AND OF TENDER LOVE AND REGRET FOR HER TWO CHILDREN.

I'm sure there's a wealth of historical information out there on Horatio Nelson, as well as the entire Nelson family. I'd like to learn more about his naval exploits, the role he played in Britain's government, and learn more about his family. Perhaps some of my British readers would care to comment, and share with me, and all of you, what they remember learning about Nelson in school, and what they feel others should know about his contributions to the world?

As for me, I'm still a little amazed at discovering such a strong link with such an important man in Audrey fforbes-Hamilton's little country church.

Dragon Dave

3 comments:

  1. Condensed from my copy of 'Little Book of Patriots' by George Courtauld,2005. **
    Lord Nelson - born 1758, Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk. Joined Navy 1770. 1778 made Commander, 1779 made Captain. 1787 married a widow, Frances Nisbet, separated 1800. 1787-93 unemployed. 1794 lost sight of right eye attacking Calvi in Corsica. 1796 made Commodore.1797 right arm shattered at Santa Cruz, Tenerife. 1798 Battle of the Nile, created Baron Nelson. 1799 made Duke of Bronte for actions in Naples. 1801 Battle of Copenhagen (famous 'blind eye' incident, made Viscount Nelson. 1805 Battle of Trafalgar. Killed on HMS Victory. His body brought back to England for state funeral, preserved in barrel of French Brandy. A brandy-based drink created in memory of this, called Nelson's Blood.
    Left one illegitimate child, Horatia, by Emma, Lady Hamilton.
    ** recommended to anyone with an interest in UK

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  2. Pickling your national leaders in their favorite alcoholic drink sounds like an interesting practice. How widespread was this, do you know?

    In the "Yes Minister" episode "The Moral Dimension," I seem to remember Jim Hacker requesting a drink named after Nelson when he visits the communication room he set up in the British Embassy in Qumran. I'll have to watch it again and see, I guess. Ugh...the pains of research!

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  3. It wasn't a regular practise. It was a case of finding something on a battle ship to preserve the body in while it was brought back from Trafalgar. Victory had been badly damaged in the battle (and following storm) and had to be towed to Gibraltar for repair first. Nelson's state funeral eventually took place in January 1806.

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