Sunday, March 10, 2013

Seafaring Sunday: Unhappy Nuptials

March 10, 1787: Horatio Nelson marries Frances Nisbet at Montpelier Estate on the Island of Nevis. Prince William Henry gave the bride away. Nelson wrote to his friend William Locker shortly after that he was "morally certain [Fanny] will continue to make me a happy man for the rest of my days." In matters of the heart, however, Nelson proved a poor prognosticator.

Header: Fanny Nelson by an anonymous artist of the British School c 1800 via Wikipedia
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6 comments:

  1. UndineMarch 10, 2013 at 7:34 AM

    Ah, poor Fanny. She probably had her flaws, but I always felt bad for her. It's hard to think of a worse public humiliation than knowing the whole world is seeing that your husband is besotted with another woman. She didn't deserve that.

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  2. PaulineMarch 10, 2013 at 1:00 PM

    I agree with you, Undine. It only made it worse that a national hero and "role model" was making a fool of himself a la our modern celebrities. Rest in peace, Fanny; you've earned it.

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  3. Dale BurrMarch 10, 2013 at 4:30 PM

    Pauline, you have, once again, posted on a subject I have studied myself.

    I have a two-part biography on Nelson, that has, just this week, been published by the Editors at H2G2.

    The Early Years
    http://www.h2g2.com/approved_entry/A87779425
    and
    The Years of Fame and Glory.
    http://www.h2g2.com/approved_entry/A87778967

    Fanny and Lady Emma are both covered in some detail. You might find the fate of Lady Hamilton and their daughter after his death of interest. On the whole I would have rather been Fanny.

    Dale

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  4. PaulineMarch 10, 2013 at 5:40 PM

    Thank you for the links, Dale. As always, you've added a lot to this post.

    Poor Emma; she didn't turn out very well in the long run. But then, as they say at the Montessori schools, she made "bad choices."

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  5. Timmy!March 11, 2013 at 8:49 PM

    She doesn't look very happy in the painting either, Pauline...

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  6. PaulineMarch 12, 2013 at 1:29 PM

    I'll be honest: I've never seen a "happy looking" portrait of Fanny Nelson. But then, as Undine noted, she didn't have a very happy life...

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