Felix Farley Bristol Journal reporting the death of Admiral Lord Nelson

Date9 November 1805

Object number00046913

NameNewspaper

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall: 497 x 346 mm (closed)

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Sally Southcombe

Terms

DescriptionEnormous in his achievents in life, the death of Admiral Lord Nelson during the battle of Trafalgar was an enormous blow to Britain which was keenly felt by sailors and the general public alike. The heroic circumstances of Nelson's death came to represent a national ideal for courage and tenacity which served Britain long after his death in 1805. Newspaper reports such as this were sought after by the general public, keen to find out what exactly happened.HistoryOn 21 October 1805, the Battle of Trafalgar was fought off the south-west coast of Spain. It turned the tide against the French Emperor Napoléon Bonaparte's threatened invasion of Britain. Under the command of Vice Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, the Royal Navy defeated the combined French and Spanish fleets - but it came at a high price when Nelson was mortally wounded. The death of Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 was a great blow to the British people and created an outpouring of commemorative memorabilia and souvenirs. This copy of the Bristol Journal was preserved by the donor's ancestors and passed down through successive generations.SignificanceThe preservation of the newspaper report of the death of Admiral Nelson reflects the importance of Nelson's life and death at all levels of British society.