Chapter II: Foreword: 7

CHAP.

I. BOYHOOD AND FIRST YEARS AT SEA 19

II. A HERO IN THE MAKING 29

III. PLEASURE IN FRANCE AND WORK IN THE WEST INDIES 42

IV. THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT WAR 52

V. “I WISH TO BE AN ADMIRAL” 66

VI. NELSON’S FIRST GREAT FIGHT: THE BATTLE OF CAPE ST VINCENT 74

VII. FROM TRIUMPH TO FAILURE: THE ATTEMPT ON SANTA CRUZ 87

VIII. IN CHASE OF THE FRENCH FLEET 96

IX. THE BATTLE OF THE NILE 102

X. THE NEAPOLITAN COURT AND LADY HAMILTON 112

XI. THE NEAPOLITAN REBELS AND THEIR FRENCH ALLIES 125

XII. NELSON IN TEMPORARY COMMAND 139

XIII. DISOBEDIENCE TO ORDERS 148

XIV. THE CAMPAIGN OF THE BALTIC 162

XV. THE BATTLE OF COPENHAGEN 171

XVI. THE THREATENED INVASION OF ENGLAND 182

XVII. THE VIGIL OFF TOULON 195

XVIII. TWELVE WEARY MONTHS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN 207

XIX. THE CRISIS 215

XX. NELSON’S LAST COMMAND 225

XXI. THE ROUT IN TRAFALGAR BAY 232

Illustrations

PAGE

THE “BELLEISLE” AT TRAFALGAR (_Frank Craig_) _Frontispiece_

NELSON AND THE BEAR (_Stephen Reid_) 26

“HE HAD THE ILL-LUCK TO FALL UPON HARD STONES”
(_Stephen Reid_) 44

COMPARISON OF THE “VICTORY” WITH THE “HERCULES” 64

“I’LL NOT LOSE HARDY!” (_H. C. Seppings Wright_) 76

NELSON WOUNDED AT SANTA CRUZ (_R. Caton Woodville_) 90

“THE FLAME THAT LIT THE BATTLE’S WRECK” (_Chas. Dixon, R.I._) 106

THE EXECUTION OF CARACCIOLO (_Stephen Reid_) 136

LADY HAMILTON (_Romney_) 156

NELSON LANDING AT YARMOUTH (_Stephen Reid_) 160

“I REALLY DO NOT SEE THE SIGNAL” (_Stephen Reid_) 172

LORD NELSON 192

HOISTING THE FAMOUS SIGNAL (_C. M. Padday_) 234

NELSON AND COLLINGWOOD CUTTING THE ENEMY’S LINES
(_H. C. Seppings Wright_) 238

THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR (_W. L. Wyllie, A.R.A._) 242

HOW THE NEWS OF TRAFALGAR WAS CARRIED TO LONDON
(_Frank Dadd, R.I._) 246

_For ages past our admirals brave
Pre-eminent have stood;
And, spite of all the world, have held
The mast’ry of the flood,
Howe, Duncan, Hood,
And Collingwood,
Long triumphed o’er the main;
While Nelson’s name,
So dear to Fame!--
We may never see their like again_