Nelson was eighteen years old when he made this declaration in 1776. By the time of his death in 1805 he had won fame as a brilliant fighting commander and naval tactician. Today, his reputation as one of the great heroes of British history has lasted for nearly two centuries and shows no signs of fading.This book, written by staff at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, examines the foundations on which Nelson's career and reputation were built, placing his life in the social, political and naval context of the time. His personality and his relationships with subordinates, superiors and with womennotably Lady Hamilton - are discussed, and the strength of his lasting influence on British thinking and attitudes investigated.The copious illustrations, drawn largely from the collections of the National Maritime Museum, includes famous images and little known items, some published for the first time. Great paintings, caricatures, relics of shipboard life, Nelson's personal possessions and examples of the mass of material produced to commemorate his victories and death, bring history to life in this fresh, authoritative and readable account. Read Less