NELSON, NAVY AND NATION

The Royal Navy and the British People 1688-1815. The Navy's position in the British imagination as the intrepid defender of our island nation goes back to Drake and the Spanish Armada, and a succession of flamboyant naval officers who were part patriot, part pirate. The introduction to this collection of essays suggests that patriotism was associated with political opposition at the time of the Glorious Revolution in 1688, transforming itself under increasing government control to a conservative virtue by the opening years of the 19th century and the ascendancy of Lord Nelson. The French and Spanish wars of the mid-18th century were an ever-present threat to shipping, trade and the peaceful pursuit of national prosperity. Spectacular paintings of the battle of Porto Bello in 1739 and a beautiful royal blue dress coat of a lieutenant from 1748 are indications of the central role played by the Navy. At the end of the 18th century the situation escalated under Napoleon's aggression and Nelson came to the rescue with strategies learnt under Admiral Lord Hood. Nelson was not born in the top echelons of society, and his notorious affair with Emma Hamilton was a well-known scandal, but he was extremely popular with his men. In fact the term gentleman was under revision during this period and increasingly denoted middle class virtues. Nelson's rise through the ranks occurred as the French Revolution was undermining the French navy, which found itself lacking traditional skills and expertise following the cull of officers by the Revolutionary powers. Nelson's death aboard HMS Victory, following his final triumph at Trafalgar in 1805, and his subsequent state funeral, receive full illustration and analysis. This volume accompanies the opening of a dedicated gallery at the National Maritime Museum and the distinguished contributors include Dan Snow and Andrew Lambert. 240pp, high quality colour reproductions.