Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson
Discussion
Is there a finer Englishman ?
21st October 1805.
22 French and Spanish ships downed, without a single British loss. A most comprehensive victory, and a turning point in the war.
I know the nation is wrapped up in Back to the Future Day, but of the two events, Only one has real meaning.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Trafalgar
21st October 1805.
22 French and Spanish ships downed, without a single British loss. A most comprehensive victory, and a turning point in the war.
I know the nation is wrapped up in Back to the Future Day, but of the two events, Only one has real meaning.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Trafalgar
V6Pushfit said:
Wellington and Nelson were superheroes.
They saved England.
They were proper celebrities with hearts of iron, unlike the paper thin self indulgent reality TV 'stars' of today whose only claim to fame is in throwaway media.
If you ever find yourself in London, and on the assumption you haven't visited yet, Apsley House is well worth a visit. The present Duke retains an apartment there and the rest is open to the public, really lovely and not expensive to visit. The silver room, containing presents from many grateful people as you might imagine, is amazing.They saved England.
They were proper celebrities with hearts of iron, unlike the paper thin self indulgent reality TV 'stars' of today whose only claim to fame is in throwaway media.
Wellington was famously Anglo Irish and of course born in Dublin. However he is of course well worthy of contention in any greatest Britain contest, coming 1st in the who is the best General contest with Bony.
If anyone is interested in Wellington and hasn't read this - then, genuinely please get a copy, one of the best books I have ever read, really easy going and full of anecdotes.
http://www.bernardcornwell.net/waterloo-the-true-s...
As for Trafalgar, it is a sad fact that now no school child could tell you much about this battle or indeed much about any of the major naval engagements Britain fought in the years 1600 - 1914, during which time the Royal Navy was undefeated in major engagements for around 150 years.
Even a cursory knowledge of Nelson's tactics and decision making at Trafalgar would be instructive into the mind of any stout hearted Englishman and why we became the dominant empire of the age.
If anyone is interested in Wellington and hasn't read this - then, genuinely please get a copy, one of the best books I have ever read, really easy going and full of anecdotes.
http://www.bernardcornwell.net/waterloo-the-true-s...
As for Trafalgar, it is a sad fact that now no school child could tell you much about this battle or indeed much about any of the major naval engagements Britain fought in the years 1600 - 1914, during which time the Royal Navy was undefeated in major engagements for around 150 years.
Even a cursory knowledge of Nelson's tactics and decision making at Trafalgar would be instructive into the mind of any stout hearted Englishman and why we became the dominant empire of the age.
I'm 32, and we didn't do anything of that period of British history in school, we did a bit of Medieval and Egyptian stuff in the first few years (we had a 'Humanities' class which was a combination of History, RE and Geography iirc) it was broken up when we chose our options. I didn't pick history but if I did it was focused on WW2 and Vietnam. That whole period of British history seems to have slipped from the curriculum (the teachers are going to set work based on what you will be examined on so it’s not their fault).
Shame really, it does need putting in as imho it is something that should be taught.
Shame really, it does need putting in as imho it is something that should be taught.
British Children haven't been taught about the rise and fall of the British Empire since the end of WW2
Industrial Revolution - Yes
Causes of WW1 - Yes
Amristar Massacre - Yes
20th Century Dictators - Yes
Crimean - Yes
All perfectly possible inn GSCE History
Empire, Slave Trade, rise of Global Trade, Wars for the Colonies and the resettlement - Zip !
I learnt more from reading Sharpe than I ever did in History at O'level and A level about Empire.
Having read about Nelsons early years in the Caribbean etc, its interesting to note he got on the first rung by virtue of his Uncle who 'enrolled' him as a Midshipman at an early age and years before he actually stepped foot on a ship so consequently he had years of 'experience' before doing so (and a wage!). When preventing American vessels moving about during the War of Independence he captured many as prizes, and as was the norm they were sold along with their contents with the bounty going to him and his peers.
So it is possible when he returned to England he was already a multi-millionaire by the age of 26.
Great Chap Nelson
So it is possible when he returned to England he was already a multi-millionaire by the age of 26.
Great Chap Nelson
Gargamel said:
Erm, the war went on for another 10 years, more or less, and the turning point was the disastrous invasion of Russia (as it was in WW2).I'm with you on BTTF day.
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