"England expects that every man will do his duty" – Nelson before the Battle of Trafalgar
A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history’s most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? In Charles River Editors’ British Legends series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of Great Britain’s most important men and women in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known.
Over the course of its history, England has engaged in an uncountable number of battles, but none of her military heroes has had a greater military legacy than Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté. Whether traveling to Trafalgar Square or one of the hundreds of pubs named after him, seemingly it becomes easy to believe that no Briton has cast as long a shadow.
Nelson is well known across the world for his decisive victory at Trafalgar, made all the more legendary by the fact that he was mortally wounded at the height of his greatest feat. And it is understandable that any man who could thwart Napoleon’s ambitions as well as Nelson did would earn a place in the history books. But Nelson embodied every virtue of his homeland; a dashing, courageous military officer who was impeccably cultured, and, of course, the best at what he did. Indeed, as the personification of the supremacy of the Royal Navy, the man and his life had a powerful resonance well before his death. When Nelson’s body was immersed in rum during the homeward voyage from Trafalgar, it is said that the sailors would steal a drink, thereby imbibing the spirit of their hero. Rum is still called “Nelson’s Blood” in Britain’s Royal Navy, and consumers can buy a spiced version at the pub in Burnham Thorpe. Nelson’s strategy and tactics are taught at naval colleges around the world, and the current U.K. government is, more than 200 years after his death, considering establishing a public holiday on the anniversary of Trafalgar.
It is tempting simply to ascribe Nelson’s place in history to his decisive naval victories; but he was far more complex than that. In fact, the man described by Professor Lambert as “Brittania’s God of War” took a very modern approach to his own public image, which he carefully cultivated. The enduring Nelson cult was therefore as much his creation as anyone else’s, but that’s not to say he didn’t earn it. Good fortune, hard work, bravery and supreme talent across a range of fields enabled Nelson to go down as history’s greatest admiral. .
British Legends: The Life and Legacy of Admiral Horatio Nelson looks at the life, career, and legacy of Britain’s foremost military hero, but it also humanizes the courageous and charismatic man who was as effective at leading and inspiring his men as he was at inspiring the British public. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events in his life, you will learn about Admiral Nelson like you never have before, in no time at all.
