FOREWORD 7 CHAP. I. BOYHOOD AND FIRST YEARS AT SEA 19 II. A HERO IN THE MAKING 29 III. PLEASURE IN FRANCE AND WORK IN THE WEST INDIES 42 IV. THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT WAR 52 V. “I WISH TO BE AN ADMIRAL” 66 VI. NELSON’S FIRST GREAT FIGHT: THE BATTLE OF CAPE ST VINCENT 74 VII. FROM TRIUMPH TO FAILURE: THE ATTEMPT ON SANTA CRUZ 87 VIII. IN CHASE OF THE FRENCH FLEET 96 IX. THE BATTLE OF THE NILE 102 X. THE NEAPOLITAN COURT AND LADY HAMILTON 112 XI. THE NEAPOLITAN REBELS AND THEIR FRENCH ALLIES 125 XII. NELSON IN TEMPORARY COMMAND 139 XIII. DISOBEDIENCE TO ORDERS 148 XIV. THE CAMPAIGN OF THE BALTIC 162 XV. THE BATTLE OF COPENHAGEN 171 XVI. THE THREATENED INVASION OF ENGLAND 182 XVII. THE VIGIL OFF TOULON 195 XVIII. TWELVE WEARY MONTHS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN 207 XIX. THE CRISIS 215 XX. NELSON’S LAST COMMAND 225 XXI. THE ROUT IN TRAFALGAR BAY 232 Illustrations PAGE THE “BELLEISLE” AT TRAFALGAR (_Frank Craig_) _Frontispiece_ NELSON AND THE BEAR (_Stephen Reid_) 26 “HE HAD THE ILL-LUCK TO FALL UPON HARD STONES” (_Stephen Reid_) 44 COMPARISON OF THE “VICTORY” WITH THE “HERCULES” 64 “I’LL NOT LOSE HARDY!” (_H. C. Seppings Wright_) 76 NELSON WOUNDED AT SANTA CRUZ (_R. Caton Woodville_) 90 “THE FLAME THAT LIT THE BATTLE’S WRECK” (_Chas. Dixon, R.I._) 106 THE EXECUTION OF CARACCIOLO (_Stephen Reid_) 136 LADY HAMILTON (_Romney_) 156 NELSON LANDING AT YARMOUTH (_Stephen Reid_) 160 “I REALLY DO NOT SEE THE SIGNAL” (_Stephen Reid_) 172 LORD NELSON 192 HOISTING THE FAMOUS SIGNAL (_C. M. Padday_) 234 NELSON AND COLLINGWOOD CUTTING THE ENEMY’S LINES (_H. C. Seppings Wright_) 238 THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR (_W. L. Wyllie, A.R.A._) 242