HMS Victory in Portsmouth, UK

Presenting… the ship that stopped Napoleon! The HMS VICTORY!!! ⚓️

She’s in a dry dock these days and partially covered, but isn’t she magnificent?? Look at all those windows!

Ok, but let’s back up, because her captain, Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, was a Grade A badass who fought Napoleon with every appendage. 🫡

The Helm

In 1794, Nelson lost his right eye thanks to a cannonball during a siege in Corsica. 😜 In 1797, a musket took his right arm during a battle in the Canary Islands (well, it was amputated due to the wound, but same thing). 💪🏻 Nelson’s stunning victory at the Battle of the Nile in 1798 effectively stranded Napoleon’s army in Egypt. 🎖️ He led by example, often placing himself at the forefront of battles, disregarding personal danger to inspire his crews—who, in turn, loved him. ♥️

Nelson died aboard the HMS VICTORY. Here is where he fell.

The lantern is where Nelson died—though at first he staunchly refused to go below deck, preferring to die among his men, he eventually was taken down to see if the surgeon could save him.

The Battle of Trafalgar, which took place on October 21, 1805, (and ultimately claimed Nelson’s life 😢) was a pivotal naval battle during the Napoleonic Wars:

British Royal Navy
🇬🇧  vs. 🇫🇷🇪🇸
France & Spain fleets combined
🥊🥊🔔

Patched and patched and patched again. The ship was later used as floating battery, a hospital, all kinds of things before being decommissioned. Even at the Battle of Trafalgar, only 20% of the ship was original. War is hard on ships.

Napoleon himself was not in attendance. It happened at the Cape of Trafalgar near where Europe & Africa almost touch—in the water between Spain 🇪🇸 & Morocco. 🇲🇦 (You remember learning about the Straight of Gibraltar, yes? Just northwest of there.)

Living here was not the most pleasant. Can’t even imagine the smells. I could post a million photos but just go to Portsmouth if you ever get the chance! There’s nothing that compares to standing there.

Maybe you’ve also heard of ‘Nelson’s Column’ at ‘Trafalgar Square’ in London? Nelson’s Column is a monument to commemorate the great one-armed, one-eyed man. ⛲️

Trafalgar Square back in London

Nelson’s Column, in the context of the Battle of Trafalgar, refers to Admiral Nelson’s innovative naval tactic, the “Nelson Touch.” This tactic involved dividing the enemy’s line of ships into smaller groups (columns) and engaging them in close-quarters combat, ultimately leading to a decisive British victory. 🚢

You can literally stand underneath the Victory.

Yesterday was the 218th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar—the outcome of which is basically the reason we speak English today instead of French. Think of the blood🩸 sweat 💦 & tears 😭 at the Battle of Trafalgar—think of Nelson and many brave men like him who fought for their country: England. 🇬🇧

The Portsmouth Historic Dockyard in Portsmouth, UK has several historic buildings and ships and is 100% worth a visit as a daytrip from London by train—or, as we did, before boarding an overnight ferry to Caen, France. ♥️