cover of episode 515. Nelson: Attack the French! (Part 2)

515. Nelson: Attack the French! (Part 2)

2024/11/21
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The Rest Is History

Key Insights

Why was the British navy crucial during the 1793 conflict with France?

France declared war on Britain, making the British navy essential for both defense and offense in Europe.

What was Nelson's condition when he took command of the Agamemnon?

Nelson was a sickly 34-year-old captain but highly motivated to serve his country.

Who led the French forces during the siege of Toulon?

Napoleon Bonaparte led the French forces during the siege of Toulon.

How did Nelson lose his left eye?

Nelson was struck in the face by a spray of stone and shrapnel during the siege of Calvi, blinding his left eye.

What event marked the beginning of a significant partnership for Nelson?

Nelson's encounter with Lieutenant Thomas Masterman Hardy during a skirmish with Spanish frigates marked the beginning of a significant partnership.

What was the significance of the fog during Nelson's approach to Jervis' fleet?

The thick fog allowed Nelson's ship to pass through the Spanish fleet undetected, providing crucial information to Jervis.

What was the name of Jervis' flagship during the battle off Cape St. Vincent?

Jervis' flagship was named Victory.

Chapters

Nelson's career is not ended by his eye injury, as he hides the severity from his wife and continues to serve.
  • Nelson does not report his eye injury in ship's logs.
  • He tells his wife Fanny it's just a scratch.
  • Corsica falls under British control after the siege of Calvi.

Shownotes Transcript

It is 1793 and France has declared war on Britain, meaning that the British navy must serve as both sword and shield to Europe. Horatio Nelson is at this time a slim and sickly 34 year old captain who nevertheless burns with the zeal to serve his king and country, and has recently taken over command of the impressive Agamemnon. Meanwhile, the British navy has taken Toulon by the summer of 1793 through diplomatic means - its foothold in the Mediterranean - but is struggling to hold it. Upon arriving in the city Nelson is shocked to find it besieged by the French, under the leadership of one Napoleon Bonaparte - the first time that these two titanic rivals of history will brush shoulders, but not the last. At last the city falls to the French, and the British must go in search of another Mediterranean base. They settle upon Corsica - Bonaparte’s homeland. It is there, on the morning of the 12th of July that during the siege of Calvi that Nelson is struck in the face by a spray of stone and shrapnel, severely blinding his left eye forever more. Will this critical injury prematurely end his promising career? Just as a great armada of Spanish and French ships gathers on the horizon, heralding the coming one of history's bloodiest naval battles...

Join Dominic and Tom as they discuss the Siege of Toulon, Nelson’s heroic early forays into the Mediterranean, and the dramatic aftermath of his first near fatal injury.

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Producer: Theo Young-Smith

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