Birth of Horatio Nelson
Birth of Horatio Nelson, son of Reverend Edmund Nelson and Catherine Suckling.
Role range: 1758-1805
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Horatio Nelson Biography and Timeline
Follow Horatio Nelson through 143 dated historical records for Great Britain.
Horatio Nelson, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
143Distinct records
1 of 4Page
1758–1794Years on this page
1758
1771
HMS Raisonnable
Reports aboard HMS Raisonnable under his uncle Maurice Suckling.
Role range: 1771-1771
HMS Triumph
Transfers to HMS Triumph after HMS Raisonnable is paid off.
Role range: 1771-1772
Midshipman
Appointed midshipman on HMS Raisonnable.
1772
Carcass
Joins the Arctic expedition aboard HMS Carcass.
Role range: 1772-1773
1773
Polar Bear
According to later tradition, tries to confront a polar bear during the expedition.
Role range: 1772-1773
HMS Seahorse
Sails to the East Indies aboard HMS Seahorse.
Role range: 1773-1776
1775
Health of Horatio Nelson
Falls seriously ill during service in the East Indies.
Role range: 1775-1776
1776
Return to England
Returns to Britain after illness ends his East Indies service.
Role range: 1776-1776
1777
Lieutenant Examination
Passes his examination for lieutenant in the Royal Navy.
Role range: 1777-1777
HMS Lowestoffe
Serves as lieutenant aboard HMS Lowestoffe in the Caribbean.
Role range: 1777-1778
1778
HMS Bristol
Serves under Sir Peter Parker at Jamaica during the American war.
Role range: 1775-1783 – 1778-1779
1779
Post Captain
Is promoted post captain at a young age.
Role range: 1775-1783 – 1779-1805
HMS Hinchinbrook
Commands HMS Hinchinbrook on the Jamaica station.
Role range: 1775-1783 – 1779-1780
1780
Fever
Falls dangerously ill after the San Juan expedition.
Role range: 1780-1780
San Juan Expedition
Leads naval support for the difficult San Juan expedition.
Role range: 1775-1783 – 1780-1780
1781
HMS Albemarle
Commands HMS Albemarle on convoy and patrol duties.
Role range: 1775-1783 – 1781-1783
1782
Quebec Convoy
Escorts convoy operations connected with Quebec and North America.
Role range: 1775-1783 – 1782-1782
1783
Peace of Paris
Faces peacetime uncertainty after the American War ends.
Role range: 1783-1783
1784
Navigation Acts
Enforces Navigation Acts against illegal American trade in the West Indies.
Role range: 1784-1787
HMS Boreas
Commands HMS Boreas on the Leeward Islands station.
Role range: 1784-1787
1785
West Indies Dispute
Clashes with colonial merchants over enforcement of imperial trade law.
Role range: 1784-1787
Frances Nisbet
Meets Frances Nisbet while stationed in the Caribbean.
Role range: 1785-1787
1787
Frances Nisbet
Marries Frances Nisbet on Nevis.
Role range: 1787-1805
Marriage
Marries Frances Nisbet on Nevis.
Return from West Indies
Returns to Britain after service on the Leeward Islands station.
Role range: 1787-1787
1793
HMS Agamemnon
Takes command of HMS Agamemnon during war with Revolutionary France.
Role range: 1792-1799 – 1793-1796
Mediterranean Fleet
Joins Lord Hood's Mediterranean fleet after war resumes.
Role range: 1792-1799 – 1793-1796
Toulon
Serves during British operations connected with Toulon.
Role range: 1792-1799 – 1793-1793
1794
Bastia
Supports British operations leading to the capture of Bastia.
Role range: 1792-1799 – 1794-1794
Siege of Calvi
Nelson prepares for an assault on Calvi with Lieutenant General Charles Stuart.
Role range: 1792-1799
Siege of Calvi
Nelson and Charles Stuart land and move guns ashore to occupy heights near Calvi.
Role range: 1792-1799
Health of Horatio Nelson
The siege of Calvi costs Nelson the sight of his right eye.
Eye Injury
Suffers the eye injury that later costs sight in his right eye.
Role range: 1794-1794
Siege of Calvi
A shot strikes a sandbag near Nelson and throws stones and sand into his face.
Role range: 1792-1799
Siege of Calvi
Some debris strikes Nelson's right eye and forces him to retire from the position.
Role range: 1792-1799
Siege of Calvi
The siege of Calvi costs Nelson the sight of his right eye.
Role range: 1792-1799
Siege of Calvi
Stuart, supported by Nelson, storms and captures the main defensive position.
Role range: 1792-1799
Health of Horatio Nelson
Nelson's right eye is left permanently damaged after the Calvi siege.
Siege of Calvi
Nelson's eyesight is permanently damaged and the right eye later loses its sight.
Role range: 1792-1799
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.