Original British Napoleonic Order Signed by Horatio Nelson on HMS Victory at Sea Dated November 1804 Original Items

Original Item: One of a Kind. Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté is certainly Great Britain’s most famous Naval Commander. He presented himself at a time of crisis, and on three separate occasions defeated the French Fleet and those of France’s allies.

The son of a clergyman, Horatio Nelson entered the Royal Navy and received his own Command in 1778 at only 20 years of age. His rise to fame was extraordinary, his natural ability to out think his opponents was second to none. In 1798 he obliterated the French Fleet at what we now know as the Battle of the Nile and in 1801 he defeated the French-Allied Danish Fleet at the Battle of Copenhagen. But, the most memorable of all was his victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, where he lost his life to a French marksman. England was saved but she lost one of her favorite sons.

What we offer here is an ORIGINAL hand written Manuscript Order signed by HORATIO NELSON, as “NELSON & BRONTE” with his left hand, his right arm having been lost during the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1797.

The Order Reads as follows:-

To the Boatswains of His Majesty’s Ships SOVEREIGN, CONQUEROR and EXCELLENT.

By the Right Honourable Lord Viscount NELSON K.B. (Knight of the Bath), Duke of BRONTE in Sicily, Knight of the Great Cross of Saint Ferdinand and of merit, Knight of the order of the Crescent and the illustrious Order of Saint Joachim. New Admiral of the White and Commander in Chief of His Majesty’s Ships and vessels deployed and to be employed in the Mediterranean Station.

Having appointed Mr. John Aberdeen, Boatswain of His Majesty’s Ship MADRAS to be Boatswain of His Majesty’s Ship SUPERB in the room of Mr. Lockhart moved to the VICTORY.

You are therefore hereby required and directed to return immediately on board His Majesty’s Ship SUPERB and take a strict and careful survey of the Boatswain’s remain’s of stores which you are to deliver over from the charge of Mr. George Lockhart into the charge and custody of the Captain of said Ship til Mr. John Aberdeen, the succeeding Boatswain shall join. Reporting to me from under your hands a clear and correct account of your proceedings herein for my information.

Given on Board His Majesty’s Ship VICTORY at Sea, November 24th. 1804.

Signed:- NELSON & BRONTE.

By command of the Vice Admiral

Countersigned by John Scott, Nelson’s Secretary.

A magnificent original Document measuring 8″ X 12 1/2″ tall, double sided housed in a plexiglass glazed frame including an original Victorian Print of “Nelson receiving the Swords”, a famous painting of the 1790’s and a copy photograph of another famous painting, depicting Nelson toward the end of his life showing the loss of his right arm. The framed display measures 23″ across by 19″ tall.

FROM THE VICTORY AT SEA, just perfect for any Naval enthusiast!