Horatio Nelson: Difference between revisions
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===[[Battle of the Nile]]=== | ===[[Battle of the Nile]]=== | ||
===[[Battle of Trafalgar]]=== | ===[[Battle of Trafalgar]]=== | ||
This was the decisive naval engagement of the war, irretrievably breaking the French Navy.<ref name=Massey>{{citation | |||
| title = Dreadnought: Britain, Germany and the Coming of the Great War | |||
| author = Robert K. Massie | |||
| publisher = Ballantine | year = 1991 | isbn = 0-345-37556-4 | |||
}}, pp. xiii-xvi</ref> Prior to the battle, he had mapped out an unconventional tactical plan, putting his force into what was considered a vulnerable position, but in which he believed, correctly, that the higher skill level of the [[Royal Navy]] would prove decisive. Unfortunately, a number of later successors rigidly applied that plan in situations where the specific conditions of Trafalgar did not apply. | |||
On board his flagship, ''[[HMS Victory]]'', Nelson died of a gunshot wound received after he knew Britain had won the battle. While treatment was far beyond the capabilities of early 19th century medicine,<ref>{{citation | |||
| url = http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/468457_print | |||
| title = Nelson's Wound: Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury in 19th and Early 20th Century Military Conflicts | |||
| author = William C. Hanigan & Chris Sloffer | |||
| journal = Neurosurg Focus | |||
| volume = 16 | |||
| issue = 1 | year = 2004 | |||
}}</ref> there have been interesting contemporary medical analyses. <ref>{{citation | |||
| url = http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/583592_print | |||
| title = Historical Perspectives in Surgery: The Case of the Fearless Mariner With a Mortal Chest Wound | |||
| author = Albert B. Lowenfels, William A. Liston David Burris | |||
|journal = Medscape General Surgery| year = 2008}}</ref> | |||
==Effect on doctrine== | ==Effect on doctrine== | ||
==Fiction based on Nelson== | ==Fiction based on Nelson== | ||
Revision as of 15:36, 17 March 2009
Template:TOC-right Horatio Nelson (1758 - 1805), later vice admiral Horatio, Viscount Nelson, was a distinguished officer of the Royal Navy. He was a key commander in the Napoleonic Wars, killed in action at the culminating sea action, the Battle of Trafalgar.[1] He was an aggressive tactician, whose insights, appropriate for the time, were fossilized into inappropriate rigid doctrine, but eventually put in proper and useful context.
Reputation
England expects every man will do his duty — Nelson's signal to the fleet at the start of the Battle of Trafalgar
The "Nelson touch" has become a well-recognized term for a naval officer of exceptional ability, with both technical insight and inspirational leadership.
Early life
Personal controversies
Nelson was married, but conducted an open and notorious affair, of many years, with Emma, Lady Hamilton. His wife remained devoted, but Lady Hamilton was his great love.
Battle of Copenhagen
Battle of the Nile
Battle of Trafalgar
This was the decisive naval engagement of the war, irretrievably breaking the French Navy.[2] Prior to the battle, he had mapped out an unconventional tactical plan, putting his force into what was considered a vulnerable position, but in which he believed, correctly, that the higher skill level of the Royal Navy would prove decisive. Unfortunately, a number of later successors rigidly applied that plan in situations where the specific conditions of Trafalgar did not apply.
On board his flagship, HMS Victory, Nelson died of a gunshot wound received after he knew Britain had won the battle. While treatment was far beyond the capabilities of early 19th century medicine,[3] there have been interesting contemporary medical analyses. [4]
Effect on doctrine
Fiction based on Nelson
References
- ↑ Horatio Nelson (1758 - 1805), BBC News
- ↑ Robert K. Massie (1991), Dreadnought: Britain, Germany and the Coming of the Great War, Ballantine, ISBN 0-345-37556-4, pp. xiii-xvi
- ↑ William C. Hanigan & Chris Sloffer (2004), "Nelson's Wound: Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury in 19th and Early 20th Century Military Conflicts", Neurosurg Focus 16 (1)
- ↑ Albert B. Lowenfels, William A. Liston David Burris (2008), "Historical Perspectives in Surgery: The Case of the Fearless Mariner With a Mortal Chest Wound", Medscape General Surgery