NELSON, HORATIO VISCOUNT, was born 29th Sep tember, 1758, at Burnham Thorpe, a village in Norfolk shire, of which his father was rector. Catharine Suck ling, the mother, was grand-daughter to an elder sister of Sir Robert Walpole ; and to this connection Nelson owed the name Horatio, bestowed in honour of his god-father, the first Lord \Valpule. To his mother it was farther owing, indirectly, that he adopted the profession of a seaman. From his earliest years, the boy had evinced a quickness of understanding, and a generous energy of spirit, which promised to raise him high in almost any department of human activity ; it was the circumstance of .Maurice Suckling, his uncle, being a captain in the British navy, which concentrated all those powers to wards that single object, in prosecuting which Nelson :acquired so lasting and hard-earned a reputation. He was.only about twelve years old, when, being at home during the Christmas holidays, and happening to read, in a country newspaper, that Captain Suckling was ap pointed to command the Raisonnable of 64 guns, at that time put under commission in the prospect of a nuarrel with Spain about the Falkland Islands, he instantly made known to his father, then at Bath, a strong wish to go to sea with uncle Maurice." In consequence of a pro mise to provide for one of his bi other-in-law 's children, rather than from any choice in the proposed individual, Captain Suckling acceded to this request ; and shortly after, IIoratio took leave of North Walshain school, of William, his play-mate and brother, and set out for Chatham, where the ship was stationed.
It was early in the spring of 1771, that Nelson first set his foot on board of a king's ship. The recepticri was sufficiently disheartening. His uncle was not prc sent at the time; no one had been apprised of the boy's coming; and he paced the deck for many hours with out finding any person to receive or notice him. Nur did his subsequent experience soon belie the forebodings of so hard a commencement. A frame naturally deli cate, and still more weakened by agues, was ill calcu lated to endure the physical hardships of a sailor's life, —the rough tumult of which was, moreover, sickening to a young and tender heart. Nelson felt wretched dur ing the first years of his continuance at sea ; and ever after retained a strong recollection of those early suf ferings.
His situation was indeed uncomfortable; and the hopes of bettering it were distant and feeble. He did not sail in the Raisonnable, which was paid off, the dis pute with Spain being settled ; but he had already learn ed practical seamanship during a voyage to the West Indies in a merchant vessel ; and undergone the fatigues and dangers of Captain Phipps' celebrated northern ex pedition, as cockswain in the Carcass ; and gone out to India in the Seahorse of 20 guns, part of Sir Edward IIughes' squadron,—before his good conduct procured him even the rank of a midshipman : and about eighteen months after his arrival in India, a disorder attacked him, which resisted all the powers of medicine, and left no hope, except in an immediate return to Europe. His voyage home, it may well be supposed, was gloomy and desponding. Under the kind attentions of Captain Pigot, health was indeed slowly returning; but the anxiety and depression which frequently attend an affectionate me lancholy character on entering upon active life, had ample means to prey upon him. I felt impressed," he said, long afterwards, '; with a feeling that I should neve rise in my profession. My mind was staggered with a view of the difficulties I had to surmount, and the little interest I possessed. I could discover no means of reaching the object of my ambition. After a long gloomy reverie, in which I almost wished myself over board, a sudden glow of patriotism was kindled within me, and presented my king and cAintry as my patron. Well, then ! I exclaimed, I will be a hero! and, confid ing in Providence, I will brave every danger." From that time, a iacliant orb, as Nelson expressed it, was suspended in his mind's eye, which urged him onwards to renown. Fortunate circumstances occurred to second this determination. IIis uncle had, in the in terim, been made comptroller of the navy ; on the 8th of April, 1777, Nelson passed his examination with credit for a lieutenancy ; and next day, received a commission in the Lowestoffe frigate, then fitting out for Jainaica. His merits, and the interest he had now acquired, soon advanced him top similar post in the Bristol fiag ship, under Sir P. Parker ; from this to be commander of the Badger hrig ; and next, on the llth of June, 1779, to the r&nk of post-captain in the Hinchinbrook of 28 gunra.