Horatio Nelson

Why is Nelson a hero? Because he was a captain before he was 21, a man who shaped the course of history from the decks of his ships, hailed as a saviour of the nation, a hero killed in action at the moment of his greatest victory at the Battle of Trafalgar and immortalised ever since. What lies beneath the romantic legend of Horatio Nelson? What did he do before he became famous? Why did he fall from grace twice? Did he really put a telescope to his blind eye? Why did Victory's signal lieutenant change his 'England expects . . .' signal at Trafalgar? What made his leadership special? This book traces Nelson's spectacular and often controversial career from a Norfolk parson's son who entered the Royal Navy at the age of twelve, through his youth as a difficult and ambitious naval subordinate, his rise to admiral and celebrity, his fighting career and his outstanding victories at the battles of the Nile, Copenhagen and ultimately Trafalgar. AUTHOR: Author, historian, recognised authority on Nelson and major commemorative event organiser, Peter chairs four organisations: The 1805 Club, conserving the monuments and memorials of the Georgian sailing navy; the International Committee for Waterloo 200; The New Waterloo Dispatch - the ceremonial re-enactment in 2015 of the news of Waterloo; and Thames Alive, which in 2012 organised the manpowered squadron of The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant and the Thames Olympic Torch Relay. Peter was vice-chairman of the Official Nelson Commemorations Committee and played a key role in the planning and organisation of the Trafalgar Festival and Sea Britain 2005. He has lectured at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich Foundation, National Museum of the Royal Navy, Defence Academy, Royal Institution, schools, colleges, universities and on voyages. Peter has a degree in economics, is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. SELLING POINTS: . How Nelson is truly one of the tallest giants in history who towers over so many other great people in the same way as he does from his column in Trafalgar Square . How his greatness has informed the ethos of today's Royal Navy and how he is revered by navy's around the world, including China, Japan and the US