Are you called Nelson? Find out the truth behind the name
Oct 31, 2004
What is in a Name? You may ask. The answer is: a very great deal. Most names shine with the light of those who first made them famous.
By Craddock Williams
What is in a Name? You may ask. The answer is: a very great deal. Most names shine with the light of those who first made them famous.
Today, another baby boy has been christened ‘Nelson’. The reason may be now that the name ‘Nelson’ is made famous again by that great African leader of saint-like character –– Nelson Mandela. But Mandela himself got the name form an 18th Century British naval leader, Admiral Nelson. Nelson was the notably successful leader of the British Navy in battles against the French. He died a hero. His flagship ‘HMS Victory’ as his fleet won a stupendous victory at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Nelson’s courage, charm and ability won him the intense loyalty of his officers and world-wide respect.
His style of leadership –– personal, concerned, participatory and honesty, is considered relevant today, even to leaders in land-locked countries, without a Navy, and without any enemies except ignorance, poverty and disease.
How to lead people out of poverty into success! is the main objective of leadership on every country of the world. Parents also want their own children to be shining models of success.
Already, a massive effort is underway to prepare for the second centenary of Nelson’s example in 2005. A series of workshops and exhibitions centred on Britain’s National maritime Museum, Greenwich, London are being planned by Colin White, the Director of ‘TRAFALGAR 200’
Many souvenirs of Nelson around the world will be displayed, some of them in private hands, others already on display, for example, at Monmouth’s Nelson Museum in the Wye Valley between England and Wales. Nelson went to Monmouth to look at timber for his ships. After his famous naval victories, locals like Lady Llangattock, began collections of Nelson Memorabilia.
In Monmouth, Nelson’s relics became the core of the Nelson Museum. There, you can see the gold of the guineas he had in his purse when he died. You can see his glass eye, the only portrait painted of him with both arms, and letters he had to write using his left hand and only one eye.
Nelson (right) lost his eye during a shot-out at the Siege of Calvi in Corsica in 1794. he lost his right arm in action at Teneriffe off Spain in 1797. He died at the Battle of Trafalgar in October 21, 1805.
He was shot by a French rifleman perched high in the rigging of Frenchship alongside the ‘Victory’. Nelson was a marked man, for he wore his medals and decorations in battle.
Despite the dangers, none of his officers asked him to remove them. They knew he would regard it as cowardly.
So Nelson’s heroism was already legendary in great Britain. It was soon to become legendary throughout the English-speaking world.
What is in a Name? You may ask. The answer is: a very great deal. Most names shine with the light of those who first made them famous.
Today, another baby boy has been christened ‘Nelson’. The reason may be now that the name ‘Nelson’ is made famous again by that great African leader of saint-like character –– Nelson Mandela. But Mandela himself got the name form an 18th Century British naval leader, Admiral Nelson. Nelson was the notably successful leader of the British Navy in battles against the French. He died a hero. His flagship ‘HMS Victory’ as his fleet won a stupendous victory at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Nelson’s courage, charm and ability won him the intense loyalty of his officers and world-wide respect.
His style of leadership –– personal, concerned, participatory and honesty, is considered relevant today, even to leaders in land-locked countries, without a Navy, and without any enemies except ignorance, poverty and disease.
How to lead people out of poverty into success! is the main objective of leadership on every country of the world. Parents also want their own children to be shining models of success.
Already, a massive effort is underway to prepare for the second centenary of Nelson’s example in 2005. A series of workshops and exhibitions centred on Britain’s National maritime Museum, Greenwich, London are being planned by Colin White, the Director of ‘TRAFALGAR 200’
Many souvenirs of Nelson around the world will be displayed, some of them in private hands, others already on display, for example, at Monmouth’s Nelson Museum in the Wye Valley between England and Wales. Nelson went to Monmouth to look at timber for his ships. After his famous naval victories, locals like Lady Llangattock, began collections of Nelson Memorabilia.
In Monmouth, Nelson’s relics became the core of the Nelson Museum. There, you can see the gold of the guineas he had in his purse when he died. You can see his glass eye, the only portrait painted of him with both arms, and letters he had to write using his left hand and only one eye.
Nelson (right) lost his eye during a shot-out at the Siege of Calvi in Corsica in 1794. he lost his right arm in action at Teneriffe off Spain in 1797. He died at the Battle of Trafalgar in October 21, 1805.
He was shot by a French rifleman perched high in the rigging of Frenchship alongside the ‘Victory’. Nelson was a marked man, for he wore his medals and decorations in battle.
Despite the dangers, none of his officers asked him to remove them. They knew he would regard it as cowardly.
So Nelson’s heroism was already legendary in great Britain. It was soon to become legendary throughout the English-speaking world.