TOP BRITS From his humble1 beginnings as the sixth child of a Norfolk clergyman2, Horatio Nelson rose3 to become one of the greatest figures in British military history. His brilliant victories over the forces of Napoleon Bonaparte, and his uncompromising4 courage, despite his disabilities, have established him as a symbol of national identity.
CHILDHOOD IN THE NAVY
Nelson was born on 29 September 1758. Aged twelve, he joined the navy as an apprentice, and was seasick5 on his first day. In fact, he suffered from seasickness all his life! Made captain at just twenty, Nelson spent his first service managing Britain’s commercial interests — including slavery — in the West Indies6. In 1787, he married Fanny Nisbet, a judge’s daughter, in the Caribbean.
BRITAIN AT WAR
In 1793, Britain entered…
