Lanzarote Information

Horatio Nelson 1758 - 1805

Nelson served in the Royal Navy and was famous for his part in the Napoleonic Wars, and wounded in the battle of Santa Cruz in Tenerife during 1797.

The attack on Tenerife required an amphibious landing and the first attempt failed due to adverse currents and the surprise element was lost. Nelson tried again at night but the Spanish were better prepared than he had anticipated. Nelson had himself gone with one of the boats but he was hit in the right arm as he stepped ashore, he was taken back aboard the Theseus refusing help as he still had two legs and one arm! The surgeon decided that his arm had to be amputated. Troubridge had fought his way to the main square with another group but could go no further, as their boats had been sunk, he was forced to negotiate with the Spanish and it was agreed the British could withdraw. The fleet remained anchored off Tenerife for 3 days with a quarter of their force dead or wounded. The ships rejoined a fleet off Cadiz and then returned to England. Nelson was met with a hero's welcome even though the expedition had been a failure. He moved to London to seek expertise help concerning his amputated arm, he suffered with inflammation and poisoning but began to recover.

Nelson went back to sea in 1798 and joined the fleet at Cadiz, he was onboard the Vanguard when he was hit in the forehead by French shot, thinking he would die he said remember me to my wife. The surgeon pronounced that the injury was none threatening and he was patched up, he witnessed the end of the Orient and the battle was won.

Nelson was then mortally wounded by a bullet fired by a French sharp shooter on the Victory during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Hardy had recommended to Nelson that he should remove his decorations so that he could not be easily identified, he refused saying it was too late and that he should not fear showing his military orders to the enemy. During the battle, Hardy realised that Nelson was not by his side, he saw Nelson kneeling on the deck and he said "Hardy I do believe they have done it at last, my backbone is shot through". He had been shot by a sniper from the Redoutable. Nelson spoke to Hardy and asked him to pass his possessions to Emma, as well as the famous line "Kiss me, Hardy".

Nelson was remembered as one of Britain's greatest heroes, and for his affair with Lady Hamilton but also his ability to inspire his men, later dubbed as the Nelson touch.

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