Horatio Nelson & The Battle of Copenhagen 1801
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The Battle of Copenhagen - or more correctly the First Battle of Copenhagen - was fought between Denmark and the British Royal Navy on the 2nd April 1801.
Sandwiched between the Battles of the Nile and Trafalgar (both of which I have talked about in the past), it was yet another emphatic victory by, arguably, Britain’s greatest naval commander - Admiral Horatio Nelson.
One which he, himself, declared the most terrible battle he had fought in.
At one point Nelson was ordered to designate but famously put his telescope to his disabled eye and claimed that he couldn’t see the signal.
And yet, in one of those sliding door moments in history, the battle could have been avoided completely if only news had travelled faster.
This is the story of the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801.
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Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:46 Copenhagen
2:12 Reasons for the battle
4:08 British arrive
5:45 Nelson's Battle Plan
8:21 Battle of Copenhagen
12:19 Nelson Turns A Blind Eye
13:29 Casualties & Losses
14:30 Horatio Nelson The Hero
15:07 A Pointless Battle?
16:11 Conclusion
16:52 The History Chap
#battleofcopenhagen #royalnavy #horationelson
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My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.
History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or UA-cam animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.
My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"
Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
I'm half Plains Indian (Lakota Sioux) raised in the cornfields of Iowa. I don’t have a drop of Britsh or Celtic blood in me, but I feel a kinship and gratitude with respect to British history. Great Britian was unequivocally a global civilizing force largely responsible for the quality of life I enjoy in America today, after the dust of her empire has settled in our modern times.
I have a deep abiding respect and appreciation for the British story, controversies and triumphs alike, and I find your videos fascinating. I simply can't get enough. Thank you, and please keep them coming!
Thank you for sharing your feelings, as well as your own family heritage
Thank you, in an age where Brit bashing has become ‘fashionable’ it is great to know that there are some clever people still able to reject the Hollywood/Marxist lies and see that our empire was probably the only empire in history that was generally a force for good. ✊💪🇬🇧
@@billythewhizz8077Imperialism is bad my guy.
If it wasn’t for British imperialism the USA as you know it would not exist. @@AbrahamLincoln4
I really like the way you bring history alive. I hope in the future you can broaden your reach into the history books.
Thank you for your support
Thanks again for a wonderful story. By chance I did know about this battle because it resulted eventually in the building of a replica of a Dutch East India trade ship in the Netherlands on wich I served as a volontair. After the defeat of the Danisch fleet the Danes started planting a lot of oak trees to replenish the lost ships. By the time they were useble for shipbuilding iron ships were starting to be the new norm. After the Dutch East India Company build around 1700 ships in 200 years we did not have many oaktrees left.The Danes have now a lot of oaktrees and our shipbuileder made a deal to buy oak to build the Batavia in Lelystad . For each oaktree taken we planted three new ones in Denmark. What an ancient battle can lead to..!
What a fascinating story. Thanks for sharing.
The forests that remained after 1807 became, and what is still called "Fredskov" (peaceforest) today and was not allowed to be touched, not even tooday.
Great insight into the battle!
A wonderfully told story, my friend, I find Horatio Nelson to be one of the more interesting characters in. English Naval history. The fact he raised a blind eye telescope says everything about him and his dogged determination in battle. The ballsy can do winner takes all attitude is what made him one of my GOAT (Greatest Of All Times) personalities.
A very interesting character, who I am going to cover in a future video. And then I will compare him to the Duke of Wellington.
Aye "111 for 1...feet off the floor" is heard in pavilions around the world.
Thank you, I am honored to be considered the 🐐.
@TheHistoryChap I will forever respect Wellington for his endless determination.
History chap, I fell in love with viscount Nelson, way after leaving education.
For you to intend on comparing Nelson with wellington - I can only offer my observations and what I have taken to heart, trying to lead men by Nelson's model.
Nelson lead by the front,made sure his men were well cared for ( his women,,,erherm,,,), wellington did have respect, but calling his men scum of the earth but they scared him.
Sorry I go on two much.
Band of brothers, shakespeare,400 yes before Spielberg's mention.
Just saying.
7:25 I think you'll find that Shakespeare was the first to use the expression, "Band of Brothers", in his play "Henry V". Quote: "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers".
Thank you
Britain's reputation on the sea would hold all the way to the 20 century in WW1 as they embargoed Germany. WW2 would play out differently for many of its participants. But during the Napoleonic Wars The British Navy was King of The Seas! Brilliant seamanship by Nelson! What a sailor!
Thank you for taking the time to comment
😂 I think David Beatty fancied himself as a bit of a swashbuckling, Nelson style commander, during Ww1. He was sadly mistaken...
Another outstanding piece of history telling, thank you very much, Chris!
It’s my pleasure. Thanks for watching and for your support.
Phenomenal, thank you Chris!
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
Fascinating as always. Thank you.
Thanks for watching
Ah yes, one of the incidents people like to go "But Denmark joined Napoleon anyway!" But, what they all forget, they join with no meaningful navy.
It took a few more years for Denmark to join with Napoleon as well.
Thank you Chris. Excellent and very enjoyable as usual.
Glad you enjoyed it. It's interesting to see how different it was from the Battle of the Nile.
What cracking story thank you !!
My pleasure.
Thank you, Chris, for another fascinating video.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
You make complex actions easy to understand.
Its a very enjoyable channel, thanks!
Thank you very much
You tell an already exciting story brilliantly!
Very kind of you thanks
Great HISTORY , thank so much for your work 😃
I’m glad you liked it. Thanks for watching.
@@TheHistoryChap have a fab weekend
Thanks Chris, another brilliant telling of a piece of history I knew nothing about., Cheers
Glad you enjoyed it
Yeeessss, the one we've been awaiting for since you announced of it following your equally as splendidly done one about the Battle of the Nile, Chris old bean, and once again I just HAVE to thank ya so much indeed for the history lesson on another military battle I'd never even heard of, let alone never knew the facts about, and again one which rightfully stands as a real historical victory highlight, together with the Battle of the Nile, rather just a mere flippin' footnote before the far more famous one at Trafalgar, for our Naval hero icon Lord Nelson. I tell ya, I'm just SO glad indeed I stumbled across ya, and have subscribed to and am following ya, on here thanks to one of the Dad's Army videos you did, I'm learning SO much about conflicts we Brits were involved that I've never been in the full know about, you're TOTALLY the man to deliver it all in the absolute best way possible, YES, sir.
So, what's next to look forward to so much from ya, I wonder? Some more of Nelson and his early Naval victories before his establishment in history through death at Trafalgar, or perhaps a start on we Brits vs the Yankees during the American Revolutionary War? Whatever ya do, we'll be waiting for ya ready and eager, YES, sir
I am so glad you are enjoying my videos. Thanks for watching. So much more to come...
What a fantastic story told in such a wonderful way, well done and stay well.
Thank you very much
I love how you bring history to life, and how you teach these wonderful lessons. I love the history of Admiral Nelson. It is so much history that I never knew about. Love it.
Very kind of you. Thanks for your support.
How did I just get this in my feed?! In any case, I know I'm late, but this was another great video! Love to see content on Nelson's victories outside of Trafalgar.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching
Thank you.
I am really enjoying this series on Nelson, such a fascinating subject
I’m glad that you are enjoying it
Horatio Nelson was indeed cut from a different cloth. A very rare one at that. Many thanks for this in depth portrayal of this much forgotten battle. Keep doing what you are doing sir.
Thank you for your support
6am in the morning and what better than watching the history chap fantastic as always 🎉
That’s very kind of you. Thanks.
Simply Brilliant!!!!
Thank you
Another nicely presented history lecture.
Thank you kindly
Loved it Chris, as always a learning curve, I often wonder if any of the sailors of those late 18th and early 19th century battles, were decended from some of those who fought the Armada in Queen Elizabeth's time x
That is a fascinating question. I guess based upon where the Royal Navy recruited from there is a possibility of family connections. Having said that, I’ve never seen any evidence.
@@TheHistoryChap 😂 that looks like a challenge, get back to you on that one
This is the best historical channel I've come across
Thanks for taking the time to comment
Great as usual sir. I would enjoy your take on and subsequent telling of one William Blighs full story. Most only know he was set on the bounty, but you and i know that wasnt the only time, and he survived through superb seamanship.
Thank you for your support
Another amazing history lesson. I feel like I'm sitting in history class with a very engaging instructor.
That’s very kind of you. Thank you
Brilliant. As a former serving member of the Royal Navy, i greatly appreciated this.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
Another excellent video.
Glad you enjoyed it
Only Lord Nelson could have plan and execute this brilliant action. Not to mentioned adding a bit bravado. Now that is how one wins a naval engagement. Splendid work Sir. I look forward to your next video lecture. Kudos!
Plenty more coming your way. Watch this space!
@@TheHistoryChap Sir I appreciate you keeping me in the loop.
What a wonderful man Nelson was. Valiant, defiant and almost mad in action. Yet calm, British and honourable at all times. An example to men everywhere. Hats off sir.
@foolonthehill731; Honourable? You should check out his love life.
@@petegarnett7731 Fair point mate. Honourable in battle eh? 🇬🇧😁
Thank you for watching
Another excellent analysis! The Battle of Copenhagen was one of those battles that should have never been fought. The English had not had any serious dispute with the Danes since the time of King Cnut in 1016. The aim of the battle really was to drag Denmark out of the League. Nelson was not in command of the fleet because he was in disgrace due to his one tremendous love affair with Emma Hamilton and his cruel treatment to his wife 'Fanny'. English society at the time as a whole, including the King looked down on Emma and Nelson became the joke of the day! On his response to Parker's message 'signal 39 - to leave off action' and his famous remark that 'I really did not see the signal', there was no written record to prove that he actually said it but over the years historians as well as popular culture have embedded this into their publication and story telling. After the battle Parker was quietly dismissed and Nelson was made a viscount.
Thanks for taking the time to comment
Great Watch!
Thanks for your support
I noticed that you included the fact that Fremantle in WA is named after a naval officer n this battle. The other Australian connection was William Bligh who became the governor of the New South Wales colony and was overthrown in a mutiny of the New South Wales Corps (also known as the Rum Corps because of their officers monopoly on the provision of rum which was a currency in the colony at the time) on the 26th of January 1807.
Thanks for sharing
Bravo ! The history chap turns out top quality intersting videos on military history faster than his most avid Swedish fan can comment on them ! The only thing I can think of in the way of comments was that Sweden - under Gustav IV - later was to join Britain as an allied power (1805) as the British fleet returned to Copenhagen in 1807 - and that Swedish Pommerania - a part of Northern Germany - stayed nominally Swedish until the peace at Kiel in 1814 - with Sweden and Britain as unlikely coalition partners against Denmark !
Thank you for sharing how Swedish and British history is intertwined in that period
Great stuff 👍
Thanks for watching
Just like the Battle of Britain, you never know how close your enemy is to defeat until you urge your men on to the last. The only thing worth calculating at the end is the cost.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts
Thank's
My pleasure
That Admiral you mentioned at about 3:48 Chris was so famous that he had an area in London named after him - Hyde Parker Corner !! 😅😅
I did have to take a second look at my script to make sure auto-spell hadn't gone and said something like that!
Great video. A Follow up on the lesser-known Second Battle of Copenhagen in 1807 would be really interesting too.
Strangely, there was a British Army element in Nelson’s fleet. One Battalion of the 49th (Hertfordshire) Regiment of Foot (commanded by Colonel Isaac Brock, who was later made famous during the War of 1812), a Company of the Experimental Corps of Riflemen (later the 95th Rifles), and a small contingent from the Royal Artillery acted as marines. The soldiers were under the overall command of Colonel William Stewart.
After the battle, Nelson wrote that “Colonel Stewart did me the favour to be onboard the ‘Elephant’, and himself, with every officer and soldier under his orders, shared with pleasure the toils and dangers of the day”.
Soldiers that had fought at the First Battle of Copenhagen and that were still alive in 1847 were entitled to apply for the Naval General Service Medal 1793-1840, with the ‘Copenhagen’ clasp.
Thanks for taking the time to comment
Great story!
Glad you enjoyed it
I can add a few bits to your excellent video. Nelson had promised Hyde Parker that the battle would take no more than an hour. When the time was long past noon, Parker remarked that "Nelsons hour is bloody long". - During the battle the captain of the Amazon, Edward Riou was killed by a cannonball fired from Trekroner fortress. His last words were: "Come, then, my boys, let us all die together!".
Thank you for taking the time to add your additional information. Much appreciated.
Well told again
Thanks, glad you enjoyed my video
Excellent 👍 👍
Thank you
Good video 👍🏴🏴
Thanks
A great yarn HC. loved it.
Thanks for watching
Well done! What a complete victory! All the enemy ships sunk, captured, and burned. Nelson truly deserved his peerage being raised with the funny story to go with it.
Glad you enjoyed this video.
Shakespeare used the expression 'band of brothers' in Henry V
He did indeed.
The HMS Glatton was in fact just one of ten ships that the Crown aquired from the East India Company in 1795. The East Indiamen employed by the Company for the trade with China were the largest vessels sailing for the EIC and could and would be repeatedly mistaken for 4th rate ships of the line. They not only resembled such ships, but their design was almost identical, so much so that they could very easily be converted into 4th rates. Such a deal was struck, as you Chris alluded to, in 1795. 10 of the larger Indiamen to be purchased over into the Royal Navy to be refitted and put to service as 'proper' 4th rates. However when employed in Company service, such ships would not nearly have the same crew compartment (as in size) or armament as a 4th rate would. Indiamen would have between 20-30 guns (in rare cases a bit more) and a crew size around 100-150 (the larger ones at 140-ish). They compensated for that apparent lack of fighting power by trying to deceive potential enemies, as they passed themselves off (or tried to) as proper warships. For that purpose they painted additional gun ports onto their hull or placed dummy cannons on deck in order to appear more dangerous than they actually were. Worked quite well in fact. In the year 1800 a convoy of Indiamen came across a french squadron and quickly dispersed, captured or routed the french ships. One of the last ones (a frigate i believe) was successfully intimidated by such a large Indiaman into surrendering. When the French Captain appeared on that ship (Exeter i think its name was), he was confused as to the little amount of guns present on board and was quite shocked when being told he just had in fact surrendered to a merchantman, rather than to a warhsip - as he had believed. Pretty ballsy he asked the British Captain for a rematch, which the latter - obviously - refused.
Thank you for taking the time to share your in-depth information
Do you have a video about the cape of st. Vincent? I would love to see a whole series on Nelson.
Haven’t done that one yet, but I will be. Watch this space!
Hope your cold gets better soon
Thank you, I’m on the mend
Thanks for the interesting video. I think Fremantle is known as a port rather than a town. Fremantle is on the coast on the mouth of the Swan River. Perth, the capital of WA is inland on the Swan River.
You get to the gold medal for nitpicking this week
Another great story! Quick curiosity, did you switch microphones or anything? Your audio seems a bit more crisp
Thank you. same microphone but slightly raised.
@TheHistoryChap ah well it made quite the difference for me through my speakers, you sound like you are right next to me! Lol
I think Master Will had Spielberg by about 400 years.
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers".
No one talks about Henry V's men at Agincourt as the band of brothers. No mini-series made about them either.
You got to hand it to Nelson, he really had an eye for these things.
Boom boom.
Another excellent presentation. I'll bet there was a great sigh of relief from the Russian sailors fearful of a British war vessel visible through their eyeglasses!
They probably were relieved!
Nice mention of the Band of Brothers series!
Thanks Nathan.
@@TheHistoryChap You're Welcome, I joined your Membership channel.
No mention of admiral Thomas Graves HMS Defiance, who was Nelson’s second in command, and was knighted by Nelson , as proxy for the King ,on board the flagship .
Sorry for the ommission.
Was vice admiral cuthbert collingwood not involved in this battle or the Nile?I know he took a major role in Trafalgar!great content sir✌️
No he wasn't at the Nile, but he played a very important (and often overlooked) role at Trafalgar.
@@TheHistoryChap collingwood must of retired he died in 1810 RIP cuthbert collingwood🙏🏻
Nelson was born in Norfolk and like most people in Eastern England would quite possibly have had Danish ancestry.
Interesting stuff. Thank you.
🇩🇰 🏴
PS Subscribed. 👍
Interesting twist. Thanks for sharing.
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers". Shakespeare's Henry V
Thank you for taking the time to comment
Please do Bio's/episodes on Nelson's Band of Brothers,like members of the ashanti ring.
Thanks for the suggestion I will add it to my list.
@7:40 isn't "Band of Brothers" from Henry V anyway "... we happy few we band of brothers" even longer than Spielberg. Could be wrong its been a while.
I think you might have heard my laugh when referring to Spelberg.
A fathom is a 1/1000 of a sea mile, around 1.8 meters or 6 feet.
Thank you for sharing. so 100 fathoms would be about 180 meters (yards), & I said about 200.
@@TheHistoryChapAll good it was meant as an explanation, not a critique
When the Royal Navy attacked and destroyed the fleet of a country we weren't at war with it is a resounding victory yet when the Imperial Japanese Navy did exactly the same thing in December 1941 it is called "The Day of Infamy". Strange thing that!
Isn’t it just
Thanks so much Chris, Ex H.M.S. Ganges boy myself (not the one in this upload lol)
My old father-in-law was also on the Ganges in the late 1950s
Great story, all derring do, the "I see no signal" ect. I didn't realise they were basically under oath to essentially fight to the death, that's pretty sobering, that's pretty final.
It must have been a absolute blood bath, the wounded on both sides must have been numbered in many hundreds.
Pretty horrific injuries as well
I see no orders says Nelson
With his telescope next to his blind eye!
As I mentioned in the video!
4:00 He was still on Earl St Vincent's "Naughty" list for his previous stunt.
Parker understood what he was getting, hence his rather amused remarks about the ignored signal.
Thank you very much for adding that extra bit of information
I live in Fremantle WA. These guys didn't muck around.
Thanks for sharing
hahah that awesome when i heard fremantle i live around 15-20 drive from Freo.
I’m glad you liked the connection
Excellent video
When the English went to visit the Vikings.
A reversal of History
Speaking of Captain Fremantle, is Arthur Lyon Fremantle, the Britsh Military Observer who witnessed the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War, related to this family?
I’m not sure. Good question
Thanks for your interesting talk and film , one of my ancestors mary buik from dundee gave birth to a baby on board h.m.s.ardent , young mary died 1892 ,at anstruther as mrs campbell , nelson the day after the battle visited ardent many sailors killed on board . Marys husband thomas watson was pressed ganged in 1799 , later 1805 t.watson english h.m.s.victory , he was a fifer lol , a long time a go ,
What is an incredible story. Thanks so much for sharing.
Admiral Hyde Parker was an old sailor with a new young wife which is alledgedly one of the reasons he was so reluctant to set sail at all , if he had not previricated so much there is a good chance the British would have got to Copenhagen before the Danes could have prepared and deployed their floating batteries , it illustrates the disadvantages of politically motivated dual command .
Thanks for sharing your thoughts
Having just read Sharpes prey I am wondering how Denmark was neutral enough for the second battle to take place in 1807 , I think if I was the Danish Crown Prince the combination of the disillusionment of the league and the British attack would lead me to side against the French to insure that that attack wouldn’t happen again , or to side with the French out of shear anger . What am I missing in the aftermath?
Good question.
All the other countries of Europe have land borders.
If their sea trade is cut off, it's a problem, but some land route can be found.
a Navy is handy, but not life and death.
But England, as an island does not have that option.
Freedom to trade very much WAS a matter of life and death.
There was no way they were going to allow anyone to dictate to them.
The Ironic thing is that one of their largest trading partners was Russian "ruled" Finland.
Jackie Fischer wanted to do the same thing to the Imperial German fleet in the 191-'s 😁
Thank you for taking the time to comment and share your views
A fathom is 6ft so 100 fathom is 600ft or 200 yards.
Thank you for contributing
This was hardly the proudest moment in British Naval history, but an action caused by the possibility of having to face Russia and Scandinavia as well as Napoleon. A number of European countries changed sides during the Napoleonic era.. I believe the diplomatic alternative offered to the Danes was that the Brits would control their fleet to avoid it "falling into the wrong hands". A sad day for both natioins.
Thank you for taking the time to comment
Fate favors the bold...
Really poignant, I am just reading about the run up to this battle in Alexander Kent's book The Inshore Squadron. Your talk has helped give me a bit more context.
Thanks for commenting
Quite unfortunate...
Thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment.
Argubly Nelson? I would say unarguably Nelson. Drake perhaps is the other, but a privateer at heart.
Some might suggest Collingwood
well related
Thank you for watching / listening.
Sharpe fights in Copenhagen.
Thanks for sharing
And of course, Britain returned for a second go at Denmark in 1807, which was covered very well in Sharpe.
No doubt I will tell that story at some stage but first I will follow in Richard Sharpe’s footsteps and head to Talavera. Coming soon.
@@TheHistoryChap looking forward to that, Chris.
Hey. Uk. You owe us a Navy.😢
Was much of a navy if the British decided it wasn't worth taking the captured ships with them -:)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you
Sidney Smith please.
He’s on my list. Watch this space!
Stephen Ambrose, then Steven Spielberg. 😉
Indeed.
But first, Shakespeare....
100 fathoms is 600 feet
Thank you for sharing
Ah yes Captain Blye!
Maybe I should do a story about the mutiny on the Bounty
@@TheHistoryChap the bounty is a great historical film with a great cast.
So, if I've understood, in 1801 the Royal Navy had the purpose to RESTRICT THE FREE TRADE in the Baltic Sea, imposing its will to Norway, Denmark, Sweden, several German states, including Prussia and Russia, which were neutral countries in a war made to protect the Absolutism in Europe against the arrival of the liberal democracy.
No wonder Nelson thought it was a sad day.
By the way, not only timber, but Russia also provided UK with the hemp needed for the rigging and even the sails of every ship in the Royal Navy and every merchant ship or fishing boat. I don't know if the Russians also span the fibers into ropes and sail canvas or just provided the crude fibers to the British industry.
But just close your eyes and imagine...
The endless plains of Russia covered by big plants, up to five meters (16 feet), of bright green hemp from one side of the horizon to the other side, as cereals are nowadays cultivated in that country. Much like one of those bamboo forests in China.
Oh, what a paradise for the parrot of any pirate!
Thanks for taking the time to comment
Sadly you forgot about the letter Nelson, sent to the Danish King, during the fight. In the letter Nelson would threat to burn, the captured ships, with danish POWs inside, if the danes didnt stop firing. Not Horatio Nelsons proudest moment.
War isn’t cricket
Can’t cover everything
Richard Sharpe was thete
I need to do a video about Sharpe (or his battles)
As much as I love your history, are you really putting the whelp nelson above ABC? Nelson courted lavish titles and victories, ABC did what he did with what he had and tried to not court praise. Nelson was good, but he was a peacock.
I will let you decide, but I have always fely that Nelson's ego was his Achilles Heel.
@@TheHistoryChap oh absolutely agree with you there sir, I'm not saying he wasn't good, he was no Matapan or Taranto and his greatest achievement was his own press.
@@TheHistoryChap Wellington’s recollection of meeting Nelson probably summed him up:
“Why, I am not surprised at such instances, [of people meeting Nelson taking him for a vain fool}, for Lord Nelson was, in different circumstances, two quite different men, as I myself can vouch, though I only saw him once in my life, and for, perhaps, an hour.
“It was soon after I returned from India. I went to the Colonial Office in Downing Street, and there I was shown into a little waiting-room on the right hand, where I found, also waiting to see the Secretary of State, a gentleman whom, from his likeness to his pictures and the loss of an arm, I immediately recognized as Lord Nelson.
“He could not know who I was, but he entered at once into conversation with me, if I can call it conversation, for it was almost all on his side, and all about himself, and in really a style so vain and so silly as to surprise and almost disgust me. I suppose something that I happened to say may have made him guess that I was somebody, and he went out of the room for a moment, I have no doubt to ask the office-keeper who I was, for when he came back he was altogether a different man, both in manner and matter. All that I had thought a charlatan style had vanished, and he talked of the state of this country and of the aspect and probabilities of affairs on the Continent with a good sense, and a knowledge of subjects both at home and abroad that surprised me equally and more agreeably than the first part of our interview had done; in fact, he talked like an officer and a statesman.
“The Secretary of State kept us long waiting, and certainly for the last half or three quarters of an hour I don’t know that I ever had a conversation that interested me more. Now, if the Secretary of State had been punctual, and admitted Lord Nelson in the first quarter of an hour, I should have had the same impression of a light and trivial character that other people have had, but luckily I saw enough to be satisfied that he was really a very superior man; but certainly a more sudden and complete metamorphosis I never saw.”
So I do think maybe his ego was perhaps overplayed somewhat, he was an interesting historical figure anyway with flaws and virtues like the rest of us. And he was easily one of the best naval commanders in history.
🦬🇨🇦🤟
Thanks for watching