People
This section includes information and short biographies of the people who played an important part of Nelson's story. These are arranged alphabetically. More will be added soon!
Allen, Tom
(1764-1838)
A Burnham Thorpe man, he was taken aboard Nelson's ship, the Agamemnon, in 1793, and acted as Nelson's personal servant during the years of 1795 to 1802.
He was with Nelson for most of his major battles, being present at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1797), the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1797), the Battle of the Nile (1798) and the Battle of Copenhagen (1802).
He was practical and very loyal and was often known to "persuade the admiral to retire from a wet deck, or a stormy sea, to his bed", as described by George Parsons. It is clear they had a very close bond.
However, it seems the two men had an altercation, resulting in Allen being discharged in February 1802.
A Burnham Thorpe man, he was taken aboard Nelson's ship, the Agamemnon, in 1793, and acted as Nelson's personal servant during the years of 1795 to 1802.
He was with Nelson for most of his major battles, being present at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1797), the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1797), the Battle of the Nile (1798) and the Battle of Copenhagen (1802).
He was practical and very loyal and was often known to "persuade the admiral to retire from a wet deck, or a stormy sea, to his bed", as described by George Parsons. It is clear they had a very close bond.
However, it seems the two men had an altercation, resulting in Allen being discharged in February 1802.
Ball, Sir Alexander, Rear-Admiral
(1757-1809)
One of Nelson's original "Band of Brothers", he served as Captain of the Alexander in the Mediterraneean, and at the Battle of the Nile, and he was second to attack the French-ship L'Orient, which later exploded.
He was born in Sheepscomb in Gloucstershire and entered the navy at the age of twelve. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1778 and to commander in 1782, after taking part in the Battle of the Saintes under Admiral Rodney.
He first met Nelson in France while attempting to learn the lanuage there. Nelson initially thought unfavourably of him, calling him a "great coxcomb". But after Ball saved Nelson's ship, the Vanguard, from wrecking during a violent storm, they became close friends, with their friendship lasting until Nelson's death.
In 1799, Nelson sent him to blockade Malta, which had been captured by the French. The French later surrendered to the British in 1800 and Ball became Governor of the island in 1801, the first Britain to do so. He held this position until his death in October 1809.
He was buried in Malta and the following year the Maltese erected a monument in his honour.
One of Nelson's original "Band of Brothers", he served as Captain of the Alexander in the Mediterraneean, and at the Battle of the Nile, and he was second to attack the French-ship L'Orient, which later exploded.
He was born in Sheepscomb in Gloucstershire and entered the navy at the age of twelve. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1778 and to commander in 1782, after taking part in the Battle of the Saintes under Admiral Rodney.
He first met Nelson in France while attempting to learn the lanuage there. Nelson initially thought unfavourably of him, calling him a "great coxcomb". But after Ball saved Nelson's ship, the Vanguard, from wrecking during a violent storm, they became close friends, with their friendship lasting until Nelson's death.
In 1799, Nelson sent him to blockade Malta, which had been captured by the French. The French later surrendered to the British in 1800 and Ball became Governor of the island in 1801, the first Britain to do so. He held this position until his death in October 1809.
He was buried in Malta and the following year the Maltese erected a monument in his honour.
Bolton, Susannah
(1755-1813)
Nelson's eldest sister. She married a Norfolk merchant, Thomas Bolton, in 1780. Their son, named after his father, was to become the seond Earl Nelson, after his uncle, William Nelson, died in 1835.
Nelson's eldest sister. She married a Norfolk merchant, Thomas Bolton, in 1780. Their son, named after his father, was to become the seond Earl Nelson, after his uncle, William Nelson, died in 1835.
Hamilton, Emma, Lady
(c1765-1815)
Best known for being Nelson's mistress, she was born Amy Lyon in Ness in Chesire, the daughter of blacksmith Henry Lyon and his wife Mary. When she was young she tavelled to London and worked as a maid there. She later worked at the Temple of Health, run by James Graham, and then as a prostitute. She was taken in by Sir Harry Featherstonehaugh and became his mistress. She was later to have his baby, a girl named Emma Carew.
Sir Harry, unhappy at her pregnancy, eventually grew bored of Emma and she soon became mistress to Charles Greville, whose father was the Earl of Warwrick. During this time she was painted many times by the enraptured George Romney.
Unfortunately for Emma, Greville wanted to marry a rich wife and he sent her to his uncle, Sir William Hamilton, British Embassador in Naples, to get rid of her. Poor Emma thought he was going follow in a few months and was heartbroken when he didn't. However, she soon warmed to Sir William and they eventually married in 1791.
Emma became close friends with Maria Carolina, Queen of Naples, and she became famous for singing, and even more for what she called her "attitudes"- striking classical poses and dancing with the aid of a shawl- which many people admired.
She first met Nelson in 1793, when he was captain of the Agamemnon. He had come to Naples to ask for troops to aid the British at Toulon. Although they only met briefly, Nelson was obviously impressed with her and they periodically wrote to each other afterwards.
Then, in 1798, after the Battle of the Nile, Nelson returned to Naples, exhausted and with a fresh scar upon his forehead. Emma nursed him tenderly and organised a huge party in celebration of his fourtieth birthday. Thinking him the greatest hero to have ever lived, she praised and flattered him, to which he responded in kind.
During a Neaploitan rebellion, their friendship was further strengthened by her courage on a stormy voyage to Palermo, where the Royals and aristocrats were fleeing to. It was not long afterwards that people began gossiping about how close they were, and by late 1799 they were quite obvously infatuated. She soon became pregnant with his first child but due to her volumptuous figure was successfully able to hide her condtion. In early 1800 both Nelson and Sir William Hamilton were recalled to Britain and they decided to travel overland through the German states, arriving in Great Yarmouth in November.
Nelson was reunited with his wife, from whom he separated not log afterwards. He returned to sea and his daughter, Horatia was born in either late January or early February in 1801. Nelson was ecstatic and promised to marry Emma as soon as it was possible.
After a couple of years peace during which Nelson and the Hamiltons lived together at his house, Merton Place, which Emma had bought for him while he was away at sea, war broke out again and Nelson hoisted his flag in the Victory, not returning for over two years. Sir William had recently died and Emma felt desperately alone with both her lover and her husband gone. She had also fallen pregnant again with another daughter who unfortuantely died shortly after birth.
Nelson returned to Merton for just a few weeks in Autumn 1805 before setting off in the Victory once more to go to battle with the French and Spanish. Before he left had exchanged rings with his beloved in Merton church as a form of marriage.
Emma's life went dramatically downhill after Nelson's death at the Battle of Trafalgar. She had adored Nelson and his death was a blow from which she never recovered. Her friends abandoned her, she began drinking excessivley and she went deeper and deeper into debt. Merton was sold and she ran away with Horatia to France, where she later died in poverty in Calais ten years after Trafalgar.
Best known for being Nelson's mistress, she was born Amy Lyon in Ness in Chesire, the daughter of blacksmith Henry Lyon and his wife Mary. When she was young she tavelled to London and worked as a maid there. She later worked at the Temple of Health, run by James Graham, and then as a prostitute. She was taken in by Sir Harry Featherstonehaugh and became his mistress. She was later to have his baby, a girl named Emma Carew.
Sir Harry, unhappy at her pregnancy, eventually grew bored of Emma and she soon became mistress to Charles Greville, whose father was the Earl of Warwrick. During this time she was painted many times by the enraptured George Romney.
Unfortunately for Emma, Greville wanted to marry a rich wife and he sent her to his uncle, Sir William Hamilton, British Embassador in Naples, to get rid of her. Poor Emma thought he was going follow in a few months and was heartbroken when he didn't. However, she soon warmed to Sir William and they eventually married in 1791.
Emma became close friends with Maria Carolina, Queen of Naples, and she became famous for singing, and even more for what she called her "attitudes"- striking classical poses and dancing with the aid of a shawl- which many people admired.
She first met Nelson in 1793, when he was captain of the Agamemnon. He had come to Naples to ask for troops to aid the British at Toulon. Although they only met briefly, Nelson was obviously impressed with her and they periodically wrote to each other afterwards.
Then, in 1798, after the Battle of the Nile, Nelson returned to Naples, exhausted and with a fresh scar upon his forehead. Emma nursed him tenderly and organised a huge party in celebration of his fourtieth birthday. Thinking him the greatest hero to have ever lived, she praised and flattered him, to which he responded in kind.
During a Neaploitan rebellion, their friendship was further strengthened by her courage on a stormy voyage to Palermo, where the Royals and aristocrats were fleeing to. It was not long afterwards that people began gossiping about how close they were, and by late 1799 they were quite obvously infatuated. She soon became pregnant with his first child but due to her volumptuous figure was successfully able to hide her condtion. In early 1800 both Nelson and Sir William Hamilton were recalled to Britain and they decided to travel overland through the German states, arriving in Great Yarmouth in November.
Nelson was reunited with his wife, from whom he separated not log afterwards. He returned to sea and his daughter, Horatia was born in either late January or early February in 1801. Nelson was ecstatic and promised to marry Emma as soon as it was possible.
After a couple of years peace during which Nelson and the Hamiltons lived together at his house, Merton Place, which Emma had bought for him while he was away at sea, war broke out again and Nelson hoisted his flag in the Victory, not returning for over two years. Sir William had recently died and Emma felt desperately alone with both her lover and her husband gone. She had also fallen pregnant again with another daughter who unfortuantely died shortly after birth.
Nelson returned to Merton for just a few weeks in Autumn 1805 before setting off in the Victory once more to go to battle with the French and Spanish. Before he left had exchanged rings with his beloved in Merton church as a form of marriage.
Emma's life went dramatically downhill after Nelson's death at the Battle of Trafalgar. She had adored Nelson and his death was a blow from which she never recovered. Her friends abandoned her, she began drinking excessivley and she went deeper and deeper into debt. Merton was sold and she ran away with Horatia to France, where she later died in poverty in Calais ten years after Trafalgar.
Hamilton, Sir William
(1730-1803)
Sir William was the British Embassador at Naples at the time Nelson met him. He was a vulcanist, a writer and a keen collector of paintings and antique vases. He was greatly admired and respected by elson which was reciprocated by Hamilton.
He was born in December 1730, the son of Lord Archibold Hamilton and Lady Jane Hamilton.
He spent over a decade in the army and then went on to become a member of Parliament before being appointed British envoy in Naples in 1764.
His first wife, Catherine, died in 1782 and in 1786 the young Emma arrived in Naples after being sent by his nephew. He married her in 1791 when he was sixty and Emma was twenty-six.
Hamilton first met Nelson in 1793 when he was captain of the Agamemnon, sent to get troops to help the British at Toulon. They later met again after Nelson's victory at the Nile in 1798, when he and his wife took the exhausted sailor in to their home, the Palazzo Sessa.
It is unsure what Hamilton's feelings were on his wife's affair with the celebrated hero. Whatever they were, he accepted it and seemed content to turn a blind eye.
In 1800 he, along with Nelson, was recalled home after being in Naples for thirty-seven years. His health was failing and he spent much of his retirement fishing or visiting the museum in London.
He died 6th April 1803 in London, cradled in the arms of Emma, with Nelson clasping his hand. He is buried next to his first wife in Slebech.
He bequethed a portrait of Emma by Elisabeth Vigge le Brun to Nelson in his will.
Sir William was the British Embassador at Naples at the time Nelson met him. He was a vulcanist, a writer and a keen collector of paintings and antique vases. He was greatly admired and respected by elson which was reciprocated by Hamilton.
He was born in December 1730, the son of Lord Archibold Hamilton and Lady Jane Hamilton.
He spent over a decade in the army and then went on to become a member of Parliament before being appointed British envoy in Naples in 1764.
His first wife, Catherine, died in 1782 and in 1786 the young Emma arrived in Naples after being sent by his nephew. He married her in 1791 when he was sixty and Emma was twenty-six.
Hamilton first met Nelson in 1793 when he was captain of the Agamemnon, sent to get troops to help the British at Toulon. They later met again after Nelson's victory at the Nile in 1798, when he and his wife took the exhausted sailor in to their home, the Palazzo Sessa.
It is unsure what Hamilton's feelings were on his wife's affair with the celebrated hero. Whatever they were, he accepted it and seemed content to turn a blind eye.
In 1800 he, along with Nelson, was recalled home after being in Naples for thirty-seven years. His health was failing and he spent much of his retirement fishing or visiting the museum in London.
He died 6th April 1803 in London, cradled in the arms of Emma, with Nelson clasping his hand. He is buried next to his first wife in Slebech.
He bequethed a portrait of Emma by Elisabeth Vigge le Brun to Nelson in his will.
Hardy, Sir Thomas Masterman, Vice-Admiral
(1769-1839)
Probably Nelson's most famous captain. He was captain of the Victory at Trafalgar and was one of the last people to speak to Nelson before he died.
He was born in Dorset, the son of farmer Joseph Hardy and his wife Nanny.
He joined as a captain's servant on his first ship, HMS Helena, in late 1781, but shortly after left to go to Crewkerne Grammer school, where he stayed until 1785. During this time, although not present, he was marked on the ship's books of the Seaford and the Carnatic.
He spent a few years in the merchant navy, before returning to the Royal Navy in 1790. He was rated midshipman on HMS Hebe, before becomeing Master's mate the followng year. In 1793 he was rated able seaman aboard the Amphitrite, which took him to the Mediterranean fleet under Lord Hood. He became second lieutenant of the Meleager in November the same year. This was part of Nelson's squadron. He was then moved to the Minerve, where he became first lieutenant. Nelson moved his pendant to the same ship while involved in the evacuation of Elba in 1796.
On the way to Gibraltar in 1796, a Spanish frigate, Santa Sabina, was captured and Hardy along with liutenant Culverhouse went to take posession of the prize. Shortly after, a larger Spanish force appeared and the prize crew fought with them to allow the Minerve to escape. This resulted in them being captured. However Nelson exchanged the Spanish captain for Hardy and Culverhouse and they returned in February 1797.
After leaving Gibraltar, the Minerve was chased by a Spanish Squadron. During the chase a man fell overboard and Hardy went in a boat sent out to try and rescue him. This was not successful and the boat couldn't catch up with the Minerve. Nelson, seeing that Hardy would be captured again, and risking his own ships capture, ordered the Minerve to stop with the words, "By God, I'll not lose Hardy!" The Spanish, confused, paused long enough to allow Hardy back aboard his ship. Later, Nelson returned to his former ship, the Captain, and fought in the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, of which the Minerve did not take part.
After serving at Santa Cruz and the Nile, he was promoted to post-captain and given the command of the Vanguard. He stayed with Nelson until October of 1799, when he returned home.
He took part in the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 and in 1803 was appointed captain of Nelson's flagship Victory. During the Battle of Trafalgar, Hardy paced along the quarterdeck with his admiral until the later was fatally wounded. He continued to command the ship from there and found time to briefly visit Nelson twice. During the last Hardy announced Nelson's victory and then, at Nelson's request, bent down to kiss his friend goodbye, first on the cheek and then on the forehead. Hardy was usually an unemotional man, which makes this moment all the more touching.
The Victorians, however, found it embarrasing and so the myth that Nelson said "kismet", Turkish for fate, instead of "Kiss me" was born. Infact three people, who were next to Nelson at the time, all recorded "kiss me", proving that Nelson was not misheard, although the Kismet myth still persists even today.
After Trafalgar, Hardy recieved a baronet and was given command of HMS Triumph and served in North America for most of the remaining war. During this time he married Louisa Berkely, whom he had three daughters with.
In 1815 he was awarded the KCB. After the war, he became Comander-in-Chief of the South American station.
He was promoted to rear-admiral in 1825 and went ashore for the final time on 21 October 1827. He became First Sea Lord in 1830. He was promoted to vice-admiral in 1847.
He died at the age of seventy on 20 September in 1839 as governor of Greenwich Hospital, where he died. There is a monument to him there and another in Portesham, Dorset.
Probably Nelson's most famous captain. He was captain of the Victory at Trafalgar and was one of the last people to speak to Nelson before he died.
He was born in Dorset, the son of farmer Joseph Hardy and his wife Nanny.
He joined as a captain's servant on his first ship, HMS Helena, in late 1781, but shortly after left to go to Crewkerne Grammer school, where he stayed until 1785. During this time, although not present, he was marked on the ship's books of the Seaford and the Carnatic.
He spent a few years in the merchant navy, before returning to the Royal Navy in 1790. He was rated midshipman on HMS Hebe, before becomeing Master's mate the followng year. In 1793 he was rated able seaman aboard the Amphitrite, which took him to the Mediterranean fleet under Lord Hood. He became second lieutenant of the Meleager in November the same year. This was part of Nelson's squadron. He was then moved to the Minerve, where he became first lieutenant. Nelson moved his pendant to the same ship while involved in the evacuation of Elba in 1796.
On the way to Gibraltar in 1796, a Spanish frigate, Santa Sabina, was captured and Hardy along with liutenant Culverhouse went to take posession of the prize. Shortly after, a larger Spanish force appeared and the prize crew fought with them to allow the Minerve to escape. This resulted in them being captured. However Nelson exchanged the Spanish captain for Hardy and Culverhouse and they returned in February 1797.
After leaving Gibraltar, the Minerve was chased by a Spanish Squadron. During the chase a man fell overboard and Hardy went in a boat sent out to try and rescue him. This was not successful and the boat couldn't catch up with the Minerve. Nelson, seeing that Hardy would be captured again, and risking his own ships capture, ordered the Minerve to stop with the words, "By God, I'll not lose Hardy!" The Spanish, confused, paused long enough to allow Hardy back aboard his ship. Later, Nelson returned to his former ship, the Captain, and fought in the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, of which the Minerve did not take part.
After serving at Santa Cruz and the Nile, he was promoted to post-captain and given the command of the Vanguard. He stayed with Nelson until October of 1799, when he returned home.
He took part in the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 and in 1803 was appointed captain of Nelson's flagship Victory. During the Battle of Trafalgar, Hardy paced along the quarterdeck with his admiral until the later was fatally wounded. He continued to command the ship from there and found time to briefly visit Nelson twice. During the last Hardy announced Nelson's victory and then, at Nelson's request, bent down to kiss his friend goodbye, first on the cheek and then on the forehead. Hardy was usually an unemotional man, which makes this moment all the more touching.
The Victorians, however, found it embarrasing and so the myth that Nelson said "kismet", Turkish for fate, instead of "Kiss me" was born. Infact three people, who were next to Nelson at the time, all recorded "kiss me", proving that Nelson was not misheard, although the Kismet myth still persists even today.
After Trafalgar, Hardy recieved a baronet and was given command of HMS Triumph and served in North America for most of the remaining war. During this time he married Louisa Berkely, whom he had three daughters with.
In 1815 he was awarded the KCB. After the war, he became Comander-in-Chief of the South American station.
He was promoted to rear-admiral in 1825 and went ashore for the final time on 21 October 1827. He became First Sea Lord in 1830. He was promoted to vice-admiral in 1847.
He died at the age of seventy on 20 September in 1839 as governor of Greenwich Hospital, where he died. There is a monument to him there and another in Portesham, Dorset.