“With Nelson they were inspired, not by any care or pretence on his part, but by his genuine nature. Whatever was his was the best. The effect of this was that any officer or man coming under his command presently felt that his chief considered him one of the finest fellows that ever lived.”

Admiral Lord Nelson has become an enduring symbol of British heroism and naval power.

Trafalgar. Copenhagen. The Nile. His victories resonate as clearly now as they did upon his death in 1805.

But in an age of naval heroes, what makes Nelson so captivating?

In this biography John Knox Laughton attempts to peel away the layers of fiction and look at the real Nelson.

Combining Nelson’s naval achievements with his personal life, Laughton creates an astounding image of the man, the sailor and the legend.

Meticulously researched, Nelson shows the Admiral’s humanity and that the figures in his life were human also, including the infamous Lady Hamilton.

You will see that Nelson’s accomplishments seem even grander, more spectacular, when you realise they were done by a real person who gave first his eye, then his arm and finally his life for his country.

First published in 1895 by the most prolific Nineteenth Century Naval historian, Nelson is a timeless biography of a British symbol whose fame is immortal.

Praise for John Knox Laughton

‘Laughton created modern naval history.’ – Andrew Lambert

Sir John Knox Laughton (1830–1915) was a British naval historian who wrote more than 900 naval biographies. He began his career as civilian naval instructor before becoming a professor of Modern History at King’s College London. Upon his Death John Know Laughton was buried at sea in the Thames Estuary.