Greenwich

Horatio Nelson (C)NPG

Nelson

Horatio Nelson is England's most revered naval hero. The sixth of eleven children, he was born in Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk in 1758.

His naval career began when he was just twelve years of age, by the time he was twenty he was a captain. Nelson saw service in the West Indies, Baltic and Canada.

In 1787 he married Frances Nisbet and returned to England, where he spent the next five years, frustrated to not be at sea.

In 1793 Nelson returned to the navy when Britain entered the French Revolutionary Wars.

He was in command of the Agamemnon and helped capture Corsica. He lost his right eye in the battle of Calvi and later lost his right arm at the battle of Santa Cruz.

National Maritime Museum houses the Nelson Gallery

Battle of Trafalgar

From 1794 to 1805 Nelson helped the British Navy dominate the French. His most famous battle, at Cape Trafalgar off the Spanish coast, saved Britain from threat of invasion by Napoleon, but it was his last.

Struck by a French sniper's bullet he died on the first day of battle, October 21, 1805. He was buried at Saint Paul's Cathedral after his body laid in state in the Painted Hall in Greenwich. The funeral procession travelled by water from Greenwich to St Paul's.

Nelson's ties with Greenwich are apparent. The Painted Hall in Greenwich displayed his funeral carriage until 1845 and the orders and medals he was awarded were stolen from the Hall in 1900.

Today, the National Maritime Museum exhibits famous portraits and personal items, along with, the bloodstained uniform worn by Nelson at Trafalgar. There are also letters written by Nelson which reveal details of his life and career.

Events were staged around the UK during 2005 to mark the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Lord Nelson.