Nelson in his Own Words: Treasures from the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation

Date published 12/10/2022
nelson in his own words

These intimate letters and documents are displayed for the first time in this pop-up display; few have been seen or published before. They are fragile survivors which give a unique insight into Vice-Admiral Nelson’s life and preoccupations.

The letters were written in turbulent and troubled years at the peak of Nelson’s fame: from the breaking news of the Battle of the Nile, through his relationship with Emma Hamilton to just a few days before his death at Trafalgar.

Nelson wrote them in multiple places and situations. They might have been sent from the middle of the Atlantic or the Mediterranean; they might have been written when rushing to get his furniture onboard HMS Victory or when chasing the French Fleet. We can imagine them being signed and sealed, despatched by boat, carried by ship and coach to the tables of his friends and family.

Through them we can hear Nelson’s voice in his own words; his emotions and energy always near the surface, as he jumps from the personal to the professional all in one sentence.

You can listen to extracts of the papers, read them in full, or view the archive catalogue on the exhibition website here.

You can see the pop-up display in person which is free with a valid ticket.

All the documents have been generously loaned by the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation of Greece. The Foundation is a public benefit cultural institution established in spring 2007 by Panos Laskaridis and Marilena Laskaridis. It works to promote Greek culture and especially Greek letters and historical and nautical research.