Horatio Nelson Trivia Quiz

Answer: 1758, Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk

Nelson was born into a large family in the small village of Burnham Thorpe, close to the North Norfolk coast about 35 miles north-west of Norwich. His father was the village parson. (There are a number of villages called Burnham near Brancaster Bay in North Norfolk, the largest being Burnham Market).

Answer: HMS Raisonnable

Nelson was sponsored at the age of twelve my his uncle, Captain Maurice Suckling. It was the custom for young gentlemen to join the navy at the tender age of twelve as midshipmen or a captain's servant. There they would be taught various aspects of their trade leading up to becoming a commissioned officer.

Answer: 1777

Midshipmen were required to study and learn their trade on board, and after completing a suitable number of years the captain, if he considered them able, put them forward to take their lieutenant's examination, and they then appeared in front of a board of senior captains. If they passed they could then be posted as a commissioned officer.

Answer: HMS Hinchinbrooke

HMS Hinchinbrooke was bought into the navy as a captured French prize. She had previously been called the Astree. It was the custom of the navy to change the names of captured ships it bought into service. She was a 28 gun frigate.

Answer: Frances Nisbet

Nelson met and married Frances Nisbet on the Caribbean island of Nevis. She was a widow with a young son.

Answer: Emma Hamilton

Emma (Lady) Hamilton, the wife of the British ambassador to Naples, was Nelson's mistress. (Her husband was 34 years older than her and did not object to the relationship - on the contrary). Nelson and Lady Hamilton first met in 1793 and then again in 1798.

In September 1801 Nelson bought Merton Place (in Wimbeldon) and he and the Hamiltons set up home in a 'ménage à trois' with their daughter Horatia. The set-up was the subject of much gossip in the press and Lady Hamilton's dresses and apparently even dinner menus(!) were imitated by those who could afford to do so.

Answer: Chatham

HMS Rasionnable was commanded by Nelson's uncle, Maurice Suckling, at the time Nelson joined as a midshipman. He was escorted to Chatham from his home in Norfolk by his father.

Answer: Battle of the Nile

The Battle of the Nile as was fought when Nelson's fleet located the French fleet in Aboukir Bay and was fought from the 1st to the 3rd of August 1798. Nelson was on board HMS Vanguard a 74 gun ship. He was was wounded in the forehead. It was a deep wound exposing his skull during the battle and was one of his many injuries during his naval service.

The Nile medal was issued to all seamen who took park in this battle.

Answer: The King of Naples

In 1799 Nelson was made Duke of Bronte by King Fredinand of Naples, for his services to the Kingdom of Naples. He then went on to add this name to his signature and signed his name Nelson & Bronte from then on.

Answer: St Paul's Cathedral

Nelson's funeral was held on the 9th of January 1806 in St Paul's Cathedral in London. He was buried in the crypt of St Paul's. Admission to the service was by ticket only and attended by admirals and captains and other notables. However, Emma Hamilton was not invited.