Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson

Vice-Admiral of the White Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson (29 September 1758 – 21 October 1805) was a British Royal Navy officer whose leadership, grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics led to multiple decisive British naval victories during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He is widely regarded as the greatest admiral in history.

Nelson was born into a moderately prosperous Norfolk family and joined the British navy in 1771 through the influence of his uncle Maurice Suckling, a high-ranking naval officer. Developing a reputation for valour and a firm grasp of tactics, Nelson obtained his first command in 1778 but suffered bouts of illness during and right after the American Revolutionary War ended in 1783 was put on half-pay. Great Britain's entry into the French Revolutionary Wars in 1793 allowed him to return to active service and participate in the siege of Toulon and invasion of Corsica, the latter of which resulted in Nelson partially losing sight in one eye. Rising rapidly through the ranks, in 1797 Nelson distinguished himself at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent and shortly afterwards took part in an attack on Santa Cruz de Tenerife at which he lost his right arm, forcing him to return to England to recuperate. In 1798 Nelson won a decisive victory at the Battle of the Nile but subsequently became involved in Neapolitan politics and began an affair with Emma Hamilton, both of which severely damaged his reputation in his navy, leading to a period of inactivity.

In 1801 Nelson was sent to the Baltic Sea and helped to break up the Second League of Armed Neutrality by defeating a Danish fleet at the Battle of Copenhagen. His career was again interrupted by the Peace of Amiens in 1802 but after the Napoleonic Wars began in 1803 Nelson soon resumed active service. He commanded the British fleet which blockaded a Franco-Spanish fleet at Toulon, and after the allied fleet escaped pursued it to the West Indies and back but failed to bring about a battle. After a brief return to England, UK, Nelson took over the British fleet blockading Cádiz in 1805. On 21 October the Franco-Spanish fleet in Cádiz came out of port, and Nelson's fleet engaged them at the Battle of Trafalgar. The battle was a decisive British victory, but Nelson, aboard HMS Victory, was fatally wounded by a French Marksman. His body was brought back to England, UK, where he had been accorded a state funeral.