NELSON, HORATIO, VISCOUNT, an English naval officer; born in Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, England, Sept. 29, 1758. At the age of 12 he entered the navy as a midshipman, and in 1773 accompanied Commodore Phipps in an expedition to ward the North Pole. In 1777 he was made a lieutenant, and in 1779 raised to the rank of post-captain. On the com mencement of the war with the French Republic he was made commander of the "Agamemnon," of 64 guns (1793), with which he joined Lord Hood in the Medi terranean, and assisted at the siege of Bastia (May, 1794). At the siege of Calvi (July 10, 1794) he lost an eye. For his gallantry at the battle of Cape St. Vincent (Feb. 14, 1797) he was made rear-admiral of the blue, and appointed to the command of the inner squadron at the blockade of Cadiz. His next service was an attack on the town of Santa Cruz, in the Island of Teneriffe, in which he lost his right arm. In 1798 he joined Lord St. Vincent (Admiral Jervis), who sent him to the Mediterranean to watch the progress of the armament at Toulon. Notwithstanding his vigilance, the French fleet which conveyed Bonaparte to Egypt escaped. Thither Nelson fol lowed, and after various disappointments he discovered the enemy's neet moored in the Bay of Aboukir, where he obtained a most complete victory, all the French 'ships but two being taken or destroyed (Aug. 1, 1798). This achievement was
rewarded with the title of Baron Nelson of the Nile and a pension of $10,000. In 1801 he was employed on the expedition to Copenhagen under Sir Hyde Parker, in which he effected the destruction of the Danish ships and batteries. On his return home he was created viscount. When hostilities recommenced after the Peace of Amiens, Lord Nelson was ap pointed to command the fleet in the Medi terranean, and for nearly two years he was engaged in the blockade of Toulon. In spite of his vigilance the French fleet got out of port (March 30, 1805), and being joined by a Spanish squadron from Cadiz, sailed to the West Indies. The British admiral hastily pursued them, and they returned to Europe and took shelter at Cadiz. On Oct. 19, the French, commanded by Villeneuve, and the Spaniards by Gravina, ventured again from Cadiz, and on Oct. 21 they came up with the British squadron off Cape Trafalgar. An engagement took place, in which the victory was obtained by the British, but their commander was wounded in the back by a musket ball, and shortly after expired. His remains were carried to England and interred in St. Paul's Cathedral.