R-77 HORATIO NELSON 1758-1805

Horatio Nelson was born in September 1758 and died in October 1805. He was arguably the best British naval commander in the history of the Royal Navy and that officer who is credited with the chief architect of British success at Trafalgar in 1805. He joined the Royal Navy at the age of 12. At that time, he took part in cruises to the East Indies and to Africa. In 1777 he was promoted to lieutenant, and in 1779 to commander. Interestingly, in 1787 he was transferred to the personnel reserve of the Royal Navy. In 1793 he commanded his first battleship. In the course of the fighting in 1793, he lost his right eye sight. He was famous for the battle at the Cape of St. Lawrence, when he contributed greatly to British victories using unconventional combat tactics and breaking the orders of his superiors. For this victory, he was elevated to the rank of Rear Admiral and decorated with the Order of the Baths. In 1797, as a result of wounds, his right arm had to be amputated. Despite his disability, he achieved a great victory over the French at the Battle of Abukir in 1798. This battle earned him a promotion to Rear Admiral. Later, he served in the Baltic and the Mediterranean Sea, blocking French and Spanish forces in Toulon. On October 21, he led his forces to the decisive Battle of Trafalgar, which gave Britain complete domination of the seas and oceans throughout the remainder of the Napoleonic Wars. He died in that battle as a result of the gunshot. his body was transported with full honors to Great Britain and placed in the Cathedral of St. Paul, and in 1849 his column was erected in Trafalgar Square in London.