Post-Revolutionary War to Civil War
c. 1805 Commemorative Poem Lord Horatio Nelson Tribute After Death Titled "ON THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR"
c. 1805 "ON THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR," Manuscript Poem in Tribute to Lord Horatio Nelson & the Battle Of Trafalgar, Choice Very Fine.
This remarkable Handwritten Poem is a period Memorial Tribute to Lord Nelson and his amazing complete British Naval victory at the Battle of Trafalgar, where he was mortally wounded by an enemy sharpshooter. Trafalgar Square in London is so named in his honor. Beautifully penned in rich brown on clean wove period paper and just lightly folded. Measuring 7' x 9", 4 pages, three and a half pages being filled with stanzas of heroic praise for Nelson. Written on fresh appearing paper in clearly readable dark brown ink. This original manuscript patriotic poem entitled "ON THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR", written in tribute to the glorious English Naval victory over a combined French and Spanish fleet at the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar, and the tragic death by sharpshooter of Lord Horatio Nelson, the English commander during the battle. The origin of this tribute is unknown, no date, but is probably English being written around the time of mourning at his death and euphoric celebration for his Naval victory.
A British fleet under Admiral Lord Nelson, in one of the most decisive naval battles in history, defeats a combined French and Spanish fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar, fought off the coast of Spain.



At sea, Lord Nelson and the Royal Navy consistently thwarted Napoleon Bonaparte, who led France to preeminence on the European mainland. Nelson's last and greatest victory against the French was the Battle of Trafalgar, which began after Nelson caught sight of a Franco-Spanish force of 33 ships.



Preparing to engage the enemy force on October 21, Nelson divided his 27 ships into two divisions and signaled a famous message from the flagship Victory: "England expects that every man will do his duty."



In five hours of fighting, the British devastated the enemy fleet, destroying 19 enemy ships.



No British ships were lost, but 1,500 British seamen were killed or wounded in the heavy fighting. The battle raged at its fiercest around the Victory, and a French sniper shot Nelson in the shoulder and chest.



The admiral was taken below and died about 30 minutes before the end of the battle. Nelson's last words, after being informed that victory was imminent, were "Now I am satisfied. Thank God I have done my duty."



Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar ensured that Napoleon would never invade Britain. Nelson, hailed as the savior of his nation, was given a magnificent funeral in St. Paul's Cathedral in London. A column was erected to his memory in the newly named Trafalgar Square, and numerous streets were renamed in his honor.