Frances Nelson
Encyclopedia
Frances "Fanny" Nelson, Viscountess Nelson (1761 – 4 May 1831), is best known as the wife of Horatio Nelson
, the British naval officer who won several victories over the French during the French Revolutionary
and Napoleonic Wars
.
Born of wealthy parents on Nevis
, she was orphaned at a fairly young age, and married a doctor, Josiah Nisbet. The couple returned to England, but her new husband died there, and Frances returned to Nevis to live with her uncle, a prominent politician of the island. There she met Horatio Nelson, and married him in 1789. The couple moved to England and Fanny established a household and cared for her husband's elderly father while he was at sea. She was by all accounts a devoted wife, but in time Horatio met Emma Hamilton
while serving in the Mediterranean and the two embarked in a highly public affair. Fanny became estranged from her husband, who refused all contact with her up to his death at the Battle of Trafalgar
in 1805. Despite this she remained devoted to his memory for the rest of her life.
, and Mary and John's uncle had been President of the Council of Nevis until his death in 1768. Fanny's father, William Woodward, was a senior judge on Nevis, and a partner in the firm of Herbert, Morton and Woolward. The Woolwards lived in comfort, and Fanny herself owned a black manservant named Cato.
Fanny's mother died while Fanny was still a child, with her father succumbing to tetanus in February 1779, at the age of 53. Fanny inherited most of her father's possessions, but was forced to sell most of them to creditors. She raised a tablet to her parents' memory in the local church, and on 28 June 1779 married the 31-year old physician Dr Josiah Nisbet. Josiah had connections with the political elite of the island, and was probably fairly wealthy. The couple moved to England and lived briefly in the close
at Salisbury Cathedral
. Josiah Nisbet became seriously ill shortly after arriving in England and died on 5 October 1781, leaving Fanny with their seventeen-month old child Josiah, but with no other provision. Fanny raised a plaque in her dead husband's memory at the church in Stratford Sub Castle
, and spent some time in England acting as the guardian for another Nevis planter, John Pinney. Pinney returned to England in 1783 and did not recognise his children, prompting Fanny to exclaim 'Good God! Don't you know them? They are your children!' Pinney's wife was so surprised that she set her headdress alight on a nearby candle.
. The widowed Fanny was described as being young and pretty, while her availability and position as likely to inherit a substantial portion of her uncle's estate made her an attractive match for Nelson. In addition to this she painted watercolours, embroidered, and spoke excellent French
. Nelson's friend, Prince William Henry
wrote that she seemed 'pretty and sensible', while William Hotham
, then serving as a midshipman
aboard recorded that she was 'pretty, attractive, and a general favourite.' Another midshipman reported that though she had 'some beauty, and a freshness of countenance not common in that climate', her intellect was distinctly unremarkable.
Nelson made frequent visits to Nevis after meeting Fanny for the first time, and by June 1785 had decided to ask her to marry him. By August Nelson had proposed, and Fanny had accepted, but there was still the question of obtaining the blessing of the relatives, and of raising money. Fanny's uncle promised them money on his death but could give them little in the short term, but Nelson's relations could not provide anything in the immediate future. By early 1786 Nelson had been moved to Barbados
, where he engaged in legal struggles with the prize courts and other distractions, though he wrote often to Fanny on Nevis. He was able to return to Nevis in early 1787 while touring the islands with Prince William Henry, and there determined to marry Fanny.
, William Jones. A number of officers from Nelson's ship were present, as was Nelson's cousin, midshipman Maurice Suckling, while the ship's company sent a gift of a silver watch. Prince William Henry gave the bride away, and signed as a witness. Nelson pronounced himself entirely satisfied with his decision, drawing up a new will that made his new wife the sole beneficiary, and writing to his friend William Locker
that he was 'morally certain she will continue to make me a happy man for the rest of my days'.
The day after Nelson's marriage to Frances, Nelson's friend and colleague Thomas Pringle
wryly remarked that the navy had lost its 'greatest ornament', so expressing his concern that a wife got in the way of a successful naval career. Prince William Henry wrote to Samuel Hood
saying 'He is in for it now. I wish him well and happy, and that he may not repent the step he has taken.' Nelson returned to England in July at the completion of his West Indies service, with Frances following later.
, before finally stopping at his old home in Burnham Thorpe
to introduce Fanny to his father, the Reverend Edmund Nelson
. The elderly Edmund was initially reluctant to meet his new daughter in law, but the two quickly became good friends, and Edmund moved out of the parsonage in late 1790 to give the couple space to establish a home. The couple lived happily together at this stage, though Horatio was frustrated by his failure to obtain employment in the navy, and their inability to conceive a child. The outbreak of war with France in 1793 finally brought Nelson a ship to command, and he took his step son Josiah with him as a midshipman when he commissioned the 64-gun . Fanny stayed at home and cared for Horatio's ageing father, writing letters to her husband and son.
She saw little of her family during the long periods that kept them at sea, and became ever closer with Edmund, taking trips with him to Somerset in the winter. She managed her husband's financial affairs while he was at sea, and kept up relations with the Nelsons in the Norfolk. Her husband's achievements were a source of pride, but also worry to her. His actions at the Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1797 made him a popular hero, but terrified Fanny that he might be killed in some heroic act. She wrote him a letter begging him not to repeat such antics, and to leave them to captains, now that he had been promoted to rear-admiral. Instead he went on further expeditions, leading from the front, and lost most of his right arm at the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
later in 1797. Horatio returned to Fanny a broken man, sick and in pain from the stump, and resolved to settle in England with his wife.
brought her husband back into public attention, but he had by now met Emma Hamilton
, the wife of the British ambassador to Naples
, Sir William Hamilton
. The couple became estranged as Horatio became infatuated with Emma, who in turn doted on him, and came to despise Fanny. She called her 'Tom Tit', writing letters to Horatio's relative, Sarah Nelson, describing Fanny as that 'vile Tom Tit', while Josiah Nisbet was called her 'squinting brat'. She declared that Edmund Nelson had been taken in by 'a very wicked, artful woman', who had conspired to turn father against son. Horatio also began to despise being around Fanny, and around Christmas 1800 Fanny issued an ultimatum over whether it was to be her or Emma. Horatio refused to give up Emma, and the Nelsons never again lived together. Fanny occasionally wrote letters begging him to reconsider, and return to her, but Horatio returned them unread. Fanny instead settled down with Edmund Nelson, and spent most of her time with him in Bath, while her husband's open affair with Emma Hamilton scandalised society.
, but recovered. From then on she was in indifferent health. She moved to Paris
for a time to live with her son, where her eldest grandchild, also named Fanny recalled her good nature, and her devotion to her husband's memory. She would often kiss a miniature of him, once telling the younger Fanny 'When you are older little Fan, you may know what it is to have a broken heart.' Fanny Nelson returned to England and settled at Exmouth
. She died at Harley Street
on 4 May 1831 and was buried beside her son in the churchyard of St Margaret and St Andrew, Littleham-cum-Exmouth
, Devon. Map Ref:SY029812
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB was a flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. He was noted for his inspirational leadership and superb grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics, which resulted in a number of...
, the British naval officer who won several victories over the French during the French Revolutionary
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
and Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
.
Born of wealthy parents on Nevis
Nevis
Nevis is an island in the Caribbean Sea, located near the northern end of the Lesser Antilles archipelago, about 350 km east-southeast of Puerto Rico and 80 km west of Antigua. The 93 km² island is part of the inner arc of the Leeward Islands chain of the West Indies...
, she was orphaned at a fairly young age, and married a doctor, Josiah Nisbet. The couple returned to England, but her new husband died there, and Frances returned to Nevis to live with her uncle, a prominent politician of the island. There she met Horatio Nelson, and married him in 1789. The couple moved to England and Fanny established a household and cared for her husband's elderly father while he was at sea. She was by all accounts a devoted wife, but in time Horatio met Emma Hamilton
Emma, Lady Hamilton
Emma, Lady Hamilton is best remembered as the mistress of Lord Nelson and as the muse of George Romney. She was born Amy Lyon in Ness near Neston, Cheshire, England, the daughter of a blacksmith, Henry Lyon, who died when she was two months old...
while serving in the Mediterranean and the two embarked in a highly public affair. Fanny became estranged from her husband, who refused all contact with her up to his death at the Battle of Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
in 1805. Despite this she remained devoted to his memory for the rest of her life.
Family and early life
Frances was born on the Caribbean island of Nevis in 1761, and had been baptised Frances Herbert Woolward in St. George's Church in May that year. The Woolwards were members of the colonial elite, her mother, Mary Herbert, was one of three sisters of John Richardson Herbert, a descendant of the fourth Earl of PembrokePhilip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke
Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke and 1st Earl of Montgomery KG was an English courtier and politician active during the reigns of James I and Charles I...
, and Mary and John's uncle had been President of the Council of Nevis until his death in 1768. Fanny's father, William Woodward, was a senior judge on Nevis, and a partner in the firm of Herbert, Morton and Woolward. The Woolwards lived in comfort, and Fanny herself owned a black manservant named Cato.
Fanny's mother died while Fanny was still a child, with her father succumbing to tetanus in February 1779, at the age of 53. Fanny inherited most of her father's possessions, but was forced to sell most of them to creditors. She raised a tablet to her parents' memory in the local church, and on 28 June 1779 married the 31-year old physician Dr Josiah Nisbet. Josiah had connections with the political elite of the island, and was probably fairly wealthy. The couple moved to England and lived briefly in the close
Cathedral Close
A cathedral close is an architectural term referring to the series of buildings that serve as appendages to a cathedral. These may include buildings housing diocesan offices, schools, free-standing chapels associated with the cathedral, and the houses of the bishop and other clergy associated with...
at Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, considered one of the leading examples of Early English architecture....
. Josiah Nisbet became seriously ill shortly after arriving in England and died on 5 October 1781, leaving Fanny with their seventeen-month old child Josiah, but with no other provision. Fanny raised a plaque in her dead husband's memory at the church in Stratford Sub Castle
Stratford Sub Castle
Stratford-sub-Castle in Wiltshire, England was anciently a separate village and civil parish but is now a northern suburb of the city of Salisbury. It lies beneath, and south-west of, the abandoned medieval settlement of Old Sarum and is approximately twenty miles from Southampton.Stratford is...
, and spent some time in England acting as the guardian for another Nevis planter, John Pinney. Pinney returned to England in 1783 and did not recognise his children, prompting Fanny to exclaim 'Good God! Don't you know them? They are your children!' Pinney's wife was so surprised that she set her headdress alight on a nearby candle.
Return to Nevis
Fanny and her infant son returned to Nevis and lived with her uncle, John Richardson Herbert at his house Montpelier. Herbert was by now himself President of the Council of Nevis, and one of the frequent guests to his house was a young naval captain who was stationed off the island, Horatio NelsonHoratio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB was a flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. He was noted for his inspirational leadership and superb grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics, which resulted in a number of...
. The widowed Fanny was described as being young and pretty, while her availability and position as likely to inherit a substantial portion of her uncle's estate made her an attractive match for Nelson. In addition to this she painted watercolours, embroidered, and spoke excellent French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. Nelson's friend, Prince William Henry
William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
wrote that she seemed 'pretty and sensible', while William Hotham
William Hotham (1772–1848)
Sir William Hotham GCB was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars....
, then serving as a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
aboard recorded that she was 'pretty, attractive, and a general favourite.' Another midshipman reported that though she had 'some beauty, and a freshness of countenance not common in that climate', her intellect was distinctly unremarkable.
Nelson made frequent visits to Nevis after meeting Fanny for the first time, and by June 1785 had decided to ask her to marry him. By August Nelson had proposed, and Fanny had accepted, but there was still the question of obtaining the blessing of the relatives, and of raising money. Fanny's uncle promised them money on his death but could give them little in the short term, but Nelson's relations could not provide anything in the immediate future. By early 1786 Nelson had been moved to Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, where he engaged in legal struggles with the prize courts and other distractions, though he wrote often to Fanny on Nevis. He was able to return to Nevis in early 1787 while touring the islands with Prince William Henry, and there determined to marry Fanny.
Marriage ceremony
Nelson and Fanny were married at the Montpelier Estate on the island of Nevis on 11 March 1787. The marriage was performed by the clerk and rector of the church of Saint John Figtree ParishSaint John Figtree Parish
Saint John Figtree is one of 5 administrative parishes which make up the island of Nevis, and which in turn are part of the 14 parishes within the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. The parish capital is Church Ground...
, William Jones. A number of officers from Nelson's ship were present, as was Nelson's cousin, midshipman Maurice Suckling, while the ship's company sent a gift of a silver watch. Prince William Henry gave the bride away, and signed as a witness. Nelson pronounced himself entirely satisfied with his decision, drawing up a new will that made his new wife the sole beneficiary, and writing to his friend William Locker
William Locker (Royal Navy)
William Locker was an officer in the Royal Navy, who served with distinction during the eighteenth century. He rose to the rank of captain and held the posts of flag captain and commodore.-Family and early years:...
that he was 'morally certain she will continue to make me a happy man for the rest of my days'.
Thomas Pringle (Royal Navy officer)
Vice-Admiral Thomas Pringle was an officer of the Royal Navy. He served during the American War of Independence, and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.-Family and early life:...
wryly remarked that the navy had lost its 'greatest ornament', so expressing his concern that a wife got in the way of a successful naval career. Prince William Henry wrote to Samuel Hood
Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood
Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood was a British Admiral known particularly for his service in the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars...
saying 'He is in for it now. I wish him well and happy, and that he may not repent the step he has taken.' Nelson returned to England in July at the completion of his West Indies service, with Frances following later.
Settling in England
The couple initially visited Horatio's relatives in NorfolkNorfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, before finally stopping at his old home in Burnham Thorpe
Burnham Thorpe
Burnham Thorpe is a small village and civil parish on the River Burn and near the coast of Norfolk in the United Kingdom. It is famous for being the birthplace of Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, victor at the Battle of Trafalgar and one of Britain's greatest heroes...
to introduce Fanny to his father, the Reverend Edmund Nelson
Edmund Nelson (clergyman)
Reverend Edmund Nelson was an Anglican clergyman during the eighteenth century, most famous as the father of Horatio Nelson.-Early life and family:...
. The elderly Edmund was initially reluctant to meet his new daughter in law, but the two quickly became good friends, and Edmund moved out of the parsonage in late 1790 to give the couple space to establish a home. The couple lived happily together at this stage, though Horatio was frustrated by his failure to obtain employment in the navy, and their inability to conceive a child. The outbreak of war with France in 1793 finally brought Nelson a ship to command, and he took his step son Josiah with him as a midshipman when he commissioned the 64-gun . Fanny stayed at home and cared for Horatio's ageing father, writing letters to her husband and son.
She saw little of her family during the long periods that kept them at sea, and became ever closer with Edmund, taking trips with him to Somerset in the winter. She managed her husband's financial affairs while he was at sea, and kept up relations with the Nelsons in the Norfolk. Her husband's achievements were a source of pride, but also worry to her. His actions at the Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1797 made him a popular hero, but terrified Fanny that he might be killed in some heroic act. She wrote him a letter begging him not to repeat such antics, and to leave them to captains, now that he had been promoted to rear-admiral. Instead he went on further expeditions, leading from the front, and lost most of his right arm at the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1797)
The Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife was an amphibious assault by the Royal Navy on the Spanish port city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Launched by Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson on 22 July 1797, the assault was heavily defeated, and on 25 July the remains of the landing party ...
later in 1797. Horatio returned to Fanny a broken man, sick and in pain from the stump, and resolved to settle in England with his wife.
Displaced by Emma
Fanny helped treat Horatio's wound, and on his recovering and returning to sea in 1798, she returned to the domestic life. The defeat of the French fleet at the Battle of the NileBattle of the Nile
The Battle of the Nile was a major naval battle fought between British and French fleets at Aboukir Bay on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt from 1–3 August 1798...
brought her husband back into public attention, but he had by now met Emma Hamilton
Emma, Lady Hamilton
Emma, Lady Hamilton is best remembered as the mistress of Lord Nelson and as the muse of George Romney. She was born Amy Lyon in Ness near Neston, Cheshire, England, the daughter of a blacksmith, Henry Lyon, who died when she was two months old...
, the wife of the British ambassador to Naples
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, commonly known as the Two Sicilies even before formally coming into being, was the largest and wealthiest of the Italian states before Italian unification...
, Sir William Hamilton
William Hamilton (diplomat)
Sir William Hamilton KB, PC, FRS was a Scottish diplomat, antiquarian, archaeologist and vulcanologist. After a short period as a Member of Parliament, he served as British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Naples from 1764 to 1800...
. The couple became estranged as Horatio became infatuated with Emma, who in turn doted on him, and came to despise Fanny. She called her 'Tom Tit', writing letters to Horatio's relative, Sarah Nelson, describing Fanny as that 'vile Tom Tit', while Josiah Nisbet was called her 'squinting brat'. She declared that Edmund Nelson had been taken in by 'a very wicked, artful woman', who had conspired to turn father against son. Horatio also began to despise being around Fanny, and around Christmas 1800 Fanny issued an ultimatum over whether it was to be her or Emma. Horatio refused to give up Emma, and the Nelsons never again lived together. Fanny occasionally wrote letters begging him to reconsider, and return to her, but Horatio returned them unread. Fanny instead settled down with Edmund Nelson, and spent most of her time with him in Bath, while her husband's open affair with Emma Hamilton scandalised society.
After Trafalgar
Fanny Nelson fell ill in 1805, the year of her husband's death at TrafalgarBattle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
, but recovered. From then on she was in indifferent health. She moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
for a time to live with her son, where her eldest grandchild, also named Fanny recalled her good nature, and her devotion to her husband's memory. She would often kiss a miniature of him, once telling the younger Fanny 'When you are older little Fan, you may know what it is to have a broken heart.' Fanny Nelson returned to England and settled at Exmouth
Exmouth
Exmouth is a town in Devon. It may also refer to:Places*Exmouth Peninsula in Southern Chile*Exmouth, Western AustraliaPeople*Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth , a British naval officerShips...
. She died at Harley Street
Harley Street
Harley Street is a street in the City of Westminster in London, England which has been noted since the 19th century for its large number of private specialists in medicine and surgery.- Overview :...
on 4 May 1831 and was buried beside her son in the churchyard of St Margaret and St Andrew, Littleham-cum-Exmouth
Littleham, Exmouth
Littleham is an area of Exmouth in Devon, England. It was historically a village and civil parish, much older than Exmouth itself.The ecclesiastical parish is now known as Littleham-cum-Exmouth . The original parish church dates back to the 13th century and is dedicated to St Margaret and St...
, Devon. Map Ref:SY029812