BURNHAM THORPE
by Colin Cunliffe, VSS Member
Burnham Thorpe lies just a few miles inland from the once very busy seaports of the North Norfolk coast. So it is little wonder that the person featured on their sign is a seafaring man. To call Horatio Nelson a seafaring man is a gross understatement, he was without doubt the most courageous naval leader of the era.
Horatio, born on 29 September 1758 was the sixth child of Catherine Nelson, wife of Reverend Edmund Nelson, who was rector at Burnham Thorpe. Catherine was related to Lord Walpole, and as godfather it was his choice of name. Although only a frail child, he would often walk the two miles to the coast to watch the ships, and dream of a life at sea.
In 1770 at the age of twelve, the dream became reality. He persuaded his uncle Captain Maurice Suckling to take him on as a midshipman on the ‘Raisonnable,’ this was only a start for this adventurous young man.
After only one voyage he left the Royal Navy, joining a merchant ship bound for the Caribbean. Returning from this adventure he rejoined the Royal Navy in 1772 as a midshipman on the ‘Triumph.’
Horatio could not settle to strict naval routines after the less disciplined life of a what he termed ‘a practical seaman.’ When he heard of an expedition going in search of a route via the North Pole to the Pacific, he persuaded Captain Lutwidge to take him on as Coxswain in the ‘Carcass.’ The expedition ran into trouble 10° from the North Pole when they became icebound. Horatio was fascinated by the huge polar bears he saw around the ship and requested permission to go hunting them. This was denied, but Horatio undeterred set out with a companion to capture his bear. The skin would be a present for his father. He was very soon in trouble and would have been killed had not the men on watch fired off a canon to scare the beasts away.
Horatio returned to England where he decided to make the Royal Navy his career. He rose steadily through the ranks to Post Captain of the ‘Hinchinbroke’ in 1779, to serve at Nicaragua. His health deteriorated in this climate and he was invalided home to England.
Fully recovered in 1781 he sailed in the ‘Abemarle’ for the N. American coast and Canada. It was here that he fell in love with Mary Simpson. Even vowing to desert ship for her but a friend persuaded him otherwise.
A period of peace followed which Horatio spent in St. Omar, France learning to speak the language. Also falling in love again, this time to a clergyman’s daughter. His proposal was turned down and he returned to England.
In 1784 he was at sea again in the frigate ‘Boreas’ sailing for the West Indies. On visiting Antigua he met Mary Mountray and once again Horatio was in love. It was a one way affair as Mary was the wife of the Admiralty Commissioner at the Antigua Naval base. His infatuation ended when Mary and her family sailed home to England in 1785.
Horatio’s affairs continued when barely two months later he fell in love with Francis Nesbit, widow of Dr. Nesbit. This time it was a happy affair and on the 11 March 1787 Horatio and Francis Nesbit were married. They sailed for England shortly afterwards where he put ashore on Half-Pay.
Horatio brought his wife to live at the Rectory, in Burnham Thorpe, his father moving to a smaller house nearby. Here he lived the life of a gentleman. He joined the shooting parties at nearby Holkam Hall, also visiting the Walpole family at Wolterton Hall.
The cold winters of Norfolk troubled Francis after her life in Antigua. When in 1793 Horatio was appointed to command the ‘Agamemnon’ in the Mediterranean she left Norfolk to live in London.
Soon after arriving in the Mediterranean, Horatio visited Naples. It was here he met the Lord William and Lady Emma Hamilton, and immediately struck up a friendship with them.
Horatio’s life at sea also saw plenty of action. In a battle at Calvi (1794) Horatio suffered an injury to his right eye. After the battle of Cape St. Vincent (1797) Horatio was hailed an hero and promoted to Rear-Admiral, also made a Knight of the Bath.
Hoisting his flag in the ‘Theseus’ he joined the blockade of Cadiz, then on to Santa Cruz, Tenerife where a stray musket ball hit his right elbow, resulting in the loss of his arm. Within nine months Horatio was back at sea in the ‘Vangaurd’ where again he won glory at the Battle of the Nile.
In 1800, Horatio met William and Emma Hamilton again in Naples. After striking his flag he embarked on a tour of Europe with them, falling in love with Emma and becoming her lover. The trio finally arriving at Yarmouth, Norfolk on November 6, 1800, Horatio received an heroes welcome and was awarded the Freedom of the Borough. From there Horatio went to stay with the Hamiltons in London, then spent Christmas with them at Fonthill, Wiltshire. The home of William Beckford.
Horatio’s wife Francis now gave him the alternative of "Leave Emma or leave me" he chose Emma. Around late January 1801, Emma gave birth to a daughter, Horatia. Who was promptly placed in the care of a Mr. & Mrs Thompson.
By April 1801 Horatio was at sea again, aboard the ‘Elephant’ he distinguished himself at the Battle of Copenhagen and was made a Viscount. During a brief spell ashore he bought a house called Merton Place in Surrey, inviting the Hamiltons to move in with him. It was here on the 6 April 1803 that William Hamilton died, Horatio then took his daughter Horatia out of the Thompson’s care and brought her to Merton Place to be with her mother.
At last Horatio and Emma were alone with their child, but not for long. On the 16 May 1803 Britain declared war on France, Horatio was appointed Commander-in Chief of the Mediterranean whereupon he Hoisted his Flag on the ‘Victory’ and sailed to join the fleet at Toulon. He was away over two years and on his return to Merton Place he engaged a priest to witness the exchange of Betrothal ring with Emma.
Horatio then sailed to Cadiz in the ‘Victory.’ On October 21, 1805, he fought his final battle off Cape Trafalgar. He was killed in action during the closing stages of the battle that defeated the combined French and Spanish Fleets. An historic date now remembered as ‘Trafalgar Day.’
The mortal remains of Vice Admiral Lord Nelson KB, Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean lie buried in St. Paul’s Cathedral, London. Anyone visiting the All Saints Church in Burnham Thorpe will find where the spirit of Horatio Nelson rests.