Horatio Nelson

Horatio Nelson (1758–1805), 1st Viscount Nelson, was a British naval officer and vice admiral of the Royal Navy, noted for his leadership in the wars with Revolutionary and Napoleonic France. The son of a Norfolk clergyman, he went to sea at 12 and was a captain by 20. He lost the sight of one eye and later his right arm in service, yet continued in active command. His initiative at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent in 1797 brought him national recognition, followed by victories at the Nile in 1798 and Copenhagen in 1801. On October 21, 1805, before the Battle of Trafalgar, he signaled the fleet, "England expects that every man will do his duty." The victory secured Britain's naval supremacy for a century, though Nelson died during the battle. He was given a state funeral at St Paul's Cathedral, and Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square honors his memory.