Horatio Nelson is one of the famous admirals of the English Navy of the 18th century. He is the hero of a major battle at Cape Trafalgar. Admiral Nelson became the youngest captain in the British navy, going from a simple cabin boy to a vice admiral. His military victories made Horatio Nelson the idol of millions of Englishmen.
The early years of Horatio Nelson
The biography of one of the most famous British military leaders is full of many historical events and military victories. Nelson dedicated his life to the sea from his early teens. Horatio Nelson was born on September 29, 1758 in Norfolk. The family of the future admiral had nothing to do with military service. Horatio's parents were priests and tried to raise their children in severity, love and care. But as a child, Horatio fell in love with the sea and decided to become a sailor, like his uncle.
Without any military education, the boy enters his uncle's ship as a cabin boy. Already at an early age, he becomes a member of various expeditions, during which he learns the basics of naval service. The captain of the ship "Triumph" Maurice Suckling taught him to read nautical charts, navigation, control with naval guns.
First experience
Horatio entered the service at the age of 12. He took part in a polar expedition organized by the Royal Society of Science. His uncle was unhappy with the boy's entry into the service, as he did not want such a fate for him. However, life decreed otherwise. It was on this expedition that young Nelson received his first combat experience. The trip itself did not bring results, the ships did not manage to reach the pole. The fame of the expedition was brought by the insane antics of Horatio Nelson, which earned him the fame of a desperate guy. Eyewitnesses told how, in the darkness of the polar night, Horatio, with one musket, chased a polar bear that had come to the camp. The sailors believed that he would not return alive. However, the intruder from the camp retired, and the cabin boy became a daredevil known in the navy.
In this voyage, Nelson acquired a lot of new knowledge about the structure of the ship, honed the skills of navigation and maritime affairs. Horatio saw the benefit of having a real life experience together in a stuffy classroom. Upon his return from the voyage, Nelson becomes a messenger on the "Triumph", and then takes control of the longboat and goes on it to the estuaries of the Thames and Midway.
Officer rank
In 1773, Horatio entered the service of the Seahorse brig, where he held the post of a first class sailor. However, sailing in the West Indies was not easy for him. Nelson fell ill with a fever and was rushed ashore. His further fate was full of many events, which made him a famous English admiral.
In 1777, Nelson successfully passed the exams and received his first officer rank - the rank of lieutenant. In this rank, Horatio is given control of the frigate Lowestoff, which was patrolling the coast of England. However, Horatio was attracted by the western seas, where there were numerous colonies of Great Britain. On the ship, the young lieutenant was treated with respect, since the fame of him had already spread throughout the fleet. And although evil tongues said that he received his appointment not without the help of an all-powerful uncle, they could not help but recognize his education and courage. After his transfer to the ship "Bristol", the frigate crew presented him with a casket carved from ivory.
Military career of Horatio Nelson
In 1778, Nelson was given command of the Bedger Brig, which was on patrol off the coast of Latin America. The talent of the already famous naval commander came in handy here too. For several years, his voyage took place in the fight against smugglers, robberies, which often ended in boarding fights.
During this time, the United Kingdom faced a serious problem. The American colonies that belonged to England began to demand independence, and in 1776 they created a new state - the United States of America. Soon a civil war broke out in the new state. Spain provided support to the colonists. England, in order to save the remnants of her colonies, sent a fleet to the Gulf of Mexico, on one of the ships of which Horatio Nelson was. However, the landing in the area of the San Juan River was unsuccessful. Horatio received orders to return to the shores of England. At this time, he becomes a full captain and takes control of the multi-gun frigate "Hinchinbrook". This became a real recognition of the merits of the young captain, since at that time only sailors whitened with gray hair could command a frigate.
For several years, Nelson commanded various courts, fought against robberies and criminals, forced those in power to obey the laws, for which he made himself many enemies. In 1787 he retired. Nelson only returned to the navy during the war with France. For the victory at Cape St. Vincent he received the rank of Rear Admiral.
A special page in the biography of the admiral is occupied by the Napoleonic wars. The largest battle with the combined Spanish-French fleet was won by Horatio Nelson at Cape Trafalgar. The enemy troops were defeated, and England gained complete supremacy at sea, becoming the largest naval power. In this battle, Admiral Nelson was mortally wounded. In memory of the Battle of Trafalgar, a monument was erected on one of London squares - Nelson's Column, which became the center of the architectural ensemble.
Personal life of the famous admiral
In 1787, Horatio Nelson married. His wife was the widow Francis Nisbet, who had a son from her first marriage. This was a long-awaited event in the life of the captain, as he was unlucky in love. Long before the wedding, Nelson had several unsuccessful romances that did not bring him anything good except disappointment.
After Trafalgar, the body of the late admiral was transported to London and buried in St. Paul's Church. England still honors the hero of the Battle of Trafalgar.
